Mary Boykin Chesnut
I liked this book because it gave me an idea of what every day life was back in that time period (1860’s) and helped me understand the civil war a little better. Just like in Sarah Morgan’s book, everyone was hiding their silver from the Yankees. Mary Chestnut’s diary is better than Sarah Morgan’s, only because there are more colorful stories included. I read it on the computer. Here’s where I read it online It took about 2 weeks to get through it, since I took my time reading it in 30 or 40 minute sittings.
She’s another Southern civil war lady who wrote a diary of the civil war like Sarah Morgan did, but Mary Chestnut was 40 when the war broke out in 1860 and Sarah Morgan was only 20 years old (see July 11th and 12th post on Sarah Morgan). Her diary is far from boring, with a lot of everyday life happenings that are often humorous; there are the sad parts too about the war and how it unraveled everyone’s life in the South. She still sees the uplifting side to life since she can read human nature in all situations.
There’s her husband who was a Senator and after that, an aid to President Davis during the war. He was not at home much; busy with the war, but he does come and go throughout the book.
Here are some recollections from the book- the man who rode away with his tobacco bag that had his life savings in it, 26 thousand dollars! Yankee’s didn’t get his money. The women that had to squeeze through the train window (they called trains “cars’) to get on board since they closed the regular loading terminal.
The sick soldier who pretended to be far worse than he was and kissed the nurse when she wiped his brow. The kind neighbors that brought food to Mary Chestnut’s when she was to entertain President Davis and his men one evening for dinner. Her servant Molly who had to tell someone off on a train trip. The slave who ran away to the Yankees and the Yankees took his gold watch that the slave’s master gave him. The slave came back to the plantation and said: “I’d rather be with the man who gave me the watch than with the men who took it.”
Why not decent dresses?
I love dresses!
I wish I had this outfit and her shape!
Love this one, but the neckline so often goes too far down. Doesn’t work for busty women with not much room from the cleavage to the throat area. You shouldn’t go to tight, but a fitted look is what you want. Hard to get it right – it’s a good thing we have full length mirrors.
They had some stiff slips for these dresses, but I like the look. If you weigh more than you should, then you can’t wear defined waist clothing, but if you do have a waist, why not wear a more poufy dress? You don’t have to include the saddle shoes and socks and with a current hair do, it would be modern, yet still feminine.
I like these little outfits! How is it that these girls appear more wholesome in their outward appearance than the mainstream church going girls of today? Their hair isn’t covering their eyes either. I think that “hair in your eyes” look has gone way overboard today. Tall ladies can wear a sweater and skirt like this and not look shorter, but short gals need the sweater and skirt to be the same color to lengthen them.
I think this outfit is cute too. You could update it with modest heel T strap sandals, omit the socks, and roll up the cuffs of the wool blazer. OK, throw in a book bag that looks sleek too.
Love this old dress! It’s something I can’t wear. First of all- my head is small and the puffy sleeves swallow a short person up. Secondly, where do you wear it? To Walmart? We don’t have ball rooms and grand parties in this day and age. where you find this on their website
Here is the petticoat slip you make for it from the same pattern, although you don’t wear the bustle with the dress above.
where you find these dresses
This one is so pretty- it’s stretch Satin in a gray polka dot! 81.00 price makes you want to sew one yourself, doesn’t it?
This color is dark chocolate. I like these dresses! Another 81.00 price from the same place as the Satan one above it.
This one is from overstock.com. It’s hard to find day dresses these days. Really hard. Dresses that show some of your cleavage or breast and are too short is what’s available. Not good if you want longer dresses and no cleavage shown, which brings me to this dress form that I’d really like to have for all my sewing ventures.
This one pictured is a Singer brand, but the price goes up when you want a plus size dress form. I tried to make my own once on some post from a few years ago, the sticky paper one. but I’d go with the duct tape one if I ever do it again. 
It’s so inexpensive and you get your exact shape! Here’s the link of Mimi Goodwin making her own dress form. she makes a duct tape dress form so why not wear decent dresses?
Black dresses and knockout perfume
Every women needs both- beautiful dresses and knockout perfume; tastefully done. How about a black dress and Del Rae’s Amoureuse perfume Another Amoureuse review
V necks minimize the bust on the first dress, and on the next one- the ballerina neckline is pretty (from Lands End website).
Amoureuse perfume by DelRae
This black dress is a little more for getting dressed up because of the side metal thing.
Good Bye to 2009
Here’s Deanna Durbin singing Goodbye by Tosti (as only she can sing it!). When I watch this clip, I think of it as a goodbye to the year 2009. Her dog was named Tippy, her family’s faith was Baptist, and she’s still alive too. Goodbye song/clip from Deanna Durbin on U-Tube Good bye 2009! Pray for good things to come in 2010 and wise decisions to be made in our lives.
The Caroline years
These are the first four books in the Caroline series written by Maria Wilkes and the next 4 (not on this post) are written by someone else. My Dad was born in Milwaukee- 1914 which would have been when Caroline was 75 yrs old. It is neat to figure how your parents and relatives fit into the history timeline isn’t it? I enjoyed these books, but I am partial to the way Mellissa Wiley writes; the author of the Martha Years and Charlotte years.
Caroline’s father died which was an even a more burdensome trial than it would be now days. Her father was allowed to build the house and live on the land although he didn’t own it. They ate way too much succotash because that is all there was at times.
I enjoy the true history of the frontier like the Maple Frolic for instance, I think it was the 3rd book. I never saw maple syrup being extracted from a tree. All children should have some kind of class trip or family outing to see how that’s done. I grew up in Wisconsin and never saw it being done. Never heard of a Maple Frolic, which makes me wonder what maple dessert would I bring if I lived back then.
How would you like to move to a cabin where you have to put down a plank floor on the dirt/mud “floor” before you move in? Look at the bright side- no rock and roll, more family togetherness…more morals… I think there was a very good side to living in that era! I like the way Joseph and Henry are portrayed as responsible, respectful sons. That’s how it should be not matter what decade of history it is.
On Top of Concord Hill (the last book) was especially interesting because a lot was happening in the book and it all seemed so real even though it’s fiction, yet so much is historically accurate that it seems like it all happened.
Don’t you wish you could read a book of your generations of long ago in reading form like these books? Maybe it’s up to us to start one!
The Charlotte Years
Little House by Boston Bay, On Tide Mill Lane, The road from Roxbury, On Puddingstone Dam
I loved this next series too although I didn’t get to read the 3rd book “The Road to Roxbury” since the library didn’t have it. I think I just plain like Mellissa Wiley’s writings. The Martha series was more interesting of the two series, simply because Scotland in that time period seemed fascinating; especially the way the land was run by the lairds.
It’s neat the way the mom’s childhood is brought up again about her doll…. don’t want to spoil the book for you if you intend on reading it. I feel bad about how the abridged series doesn’t include all of the author’s writings and how the first illustrator was replaced. Just doesn’t seem fair does it? If you notice above- the first two books have the new cover, while the 3rd and 4th book have the original illustrator’s cover. Can’t wait to read the novel that Melissa Wiley is writing. Wonder what it’s about?
another slip
This one is a double bodice and works great for tank dresses, some of my longer ones. I love this slip. It’s made from a dress pattern. These slips are nice enough to wear for sleeping in.
Here’s the pattern I used- a Simplicity 2 Hour dress or jumper.
camisole slips to sew
Using camisoles you already have can be turned into wearable slips. I took my favorite camisole and put this skirt on it from some leftover material bin. The skirt is a kind of heavy cotton which normally would be too heavy for this lightweight camisole top, but it works because the skirt is short. If it was longer, it’d be too heavy for the camisole and would pull it out of shape. I have one dress where this slip is perfect for.
Here’s what I did with this (had forever) pink camisole/ undershirt. The $1.50 a yd pink cotton starch material is perfect for dresses where I want a stiffer skirt. It’s almost the feel of bed sheet material- stiff cotton. I did a post on slips a year ago… if you go in the search box to the right, just type in “ slips” and it’ll pull up.
Hope I gave some ideas for all the camisoles tucked away in your drawer that you are not using.
same dress, different look
Look at these dresses on the models- same dress on each model but they both look so different. The model in the red dress has much longer legs than the blue dress model which gives the dress a whole different look .
Here’s another example of the same dress looking so original on three different models.
It always gets my attention when I see the same dress looking so distinct on others. We all wear our clothes so unique because of our shape, personality and the way we carry ourselves.
Last example: 
About the necklines- some can wear a more scoop neck than others without showing cleavage while other ladies can’t get away with it. Things to think about when you try on the next new dress!
Graciousness and Sweet Reasonableness
Don’t you want to be more gracious and reasonable in a sweet way? It comes from this verse in Philippians:
Let your moderation be made known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Philippians 4:5 KJV
Moderation means graciousness and sweet reasonableness from what the note in my bible says. It makes sense when you read the passage( verse 1-7) all together. This verse isn’t just for women. A gracious husband who is reasonable can make a wife’s life beautiful. Gracious and reasonable children (older ones especially) lessen your burden and are a joy. This is a blog for ladies but this verse is not just for ladies; it applies to all believers in Jesus Christ, male and female.
Philippians is a great book to read in one week since it has only 4 chapters and you can read one chapter a day from Monday to Thursday or Monday through Friday with missing one day (things always come up).
Slips- Ladies unmentionables are important
Sometimes you have to take inventory and throw out some old under things that don’t fit. Bras matter. Good fitting bras really do matter. Go onto Hanes, Playtex or some other bra website and it’ll show you how to measure for you size. I was really surprised when I did their measuring method and realized I was buying the wrong size! Once I got into the specific right size, it really made a difference.
this photo- a slip from dandelionvintage.com website. Isn’t it darling? Wish I had a pattern for it.
If you wear a dress you have to wear a decent slip to go along with it. Try a half slip.
The look in a dress is not complete without the slip because you need a little fluff under the dress or just a light “swish” to the garment to give it shape. I made a slip out of a Hanes T shirt and put a skirt on it. It works great for sheer dresses. So many dresses are sheer these days, especially summer ones. Why show your bra in the back?
You feel prettier with a nice slip on and you can never have too many. As you walk and move in your dress, you will have your configuration (the outline of your body in the dress) shaped and looking more decent if you have the right slip underneath. I wish I had a black slip like these two below.
One nice black slip!
another great black slip
Can’t sew that good?
Than start on slips! Doesn’t matter if you make a mistake since it’s a pretty well hidden. Look at the drape of your dress. Is it clingy or not hanging right? You might have the wrong type of slip underneath. Do you even have a slip on? I’ve been sewing some slips and camisoles and having a ball! It’s so much cheaper too.
cotton slips on the clothesline
Don’t neglect cotton slips for your dress needs. Every slip doesn’t have to be polyester. The cotton ones hold perfume nicely unlike the polyester, but the light feeling of a polyester slip feels silky, which is nice; so have some of both! Use a dress pattern and bring the neckline down more for your next slip- it works, I’ve tried it.
I want it!
Right slip for the right dress:
An A line dress needs an A line slip. The bodice/skirt dresses look best in the same kind of slip. The right slip takes care of the problem of the skirt of the dress clinging to your legs. Those culotte slips are great to wear but a regular slip still has to be worn for the drape of the dress to hang correctly. You can wear both culotte and a regular slip at the same time.
I see a lot of girls and young ladies wearing the type of skirt that is in need of a slip like this. Try sewing one!
Girls and slips:
If you wait till you have a 18 yr old and think you’ll put slips in her closet, think again. We’re creatures of habit and if she’s not wearing one now do you think she’ll want to be enthusiastic about wearing slips as her form goes to adulthood? Start young. A 10-12 yr old girl doesn’t always need a bra right away but a slip she’ll always need, camisoles too. That first sign of a chest changing can be covered nicely with doubling the material on a home made camisole.
I wish I would have had more slips for my daughter. We went with the slip culottes all these years and old habits are hard to break. A slip and a slip culotte should be worn together for many outfits. Start while they are young!
girls slip from hannah Andersson
A flowing garment will need a flowing slip
Our garments should flow as we walk. If we as ladies (young and old) understand this concept, then our whole idea of what we’re wearing will change! Many girls and young ladies give the impression that they’ll wear a dress, but it’ll be tight fitting, tight enough to not need a slip!
Years ago one lady from church did a study on modesty and she said the word modesty means “to flow”. The garments must be flowing is what she meant. It’s true. All this tight fitting clothing that girls and moms wear to church and everywhere else (I’m talking about girls and moms with some kind of Christian emphasis in the home) isn’t modest. It originated as the hard nightclub look with slits from how I understand it .
Plus size ladies need slips and flare.
One thing about those dresses from the 50′s that have ample room in the skirt part of the dress; room to move ! Mrs Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver was very thin and wore dresses that have a big skirt. They looked good on her. The flared out skirt is real feminine. The fit and flair type of skirt outfits and dresses are the best to fit a plus size back view .
This lady forgot to put her slip on today
You have to give your rear some room. (lady in photo above is showing her smiley undies) It’s a huge problem (oh what a pun that sounds like!) to find skirt outfits and dresses that are not straight cut but are flared out. You can purposely look for them but they are not always found and when you do find a decent flared out dress, it’s not long enough for taller ladies. That’s where sewing comes in handy.
a beautiful vintage pink slip
Don’t you wish you had a slip just like this one? It’s real feminine!
ladies of another era
On the web there are sites where they have old photographs of ladies which is neat to see what their dresses looked like. These aren’t close ups, these 3 photographs, but are much bigger on-line so you can notice their detailed dresses and hats. The material for all their outfits must be cotton, wool, or silk or a combination. Did they haven any other types of material to work with?
another day, another hat!
1. front view 2. side view
This is an older camping hat, a sturdy one from a thrift store from a few years back with 1/2 yd of sheer material wrapped around it. (3.74/yd which came to 1.80 for a half of yard) No sewing needed for this hat make over!
I re-did this hat because it fit just right on my head, just wanted to make it more feminine.
new hat
Wish my camera did a better job, but I have to tell you — I love this hat! This brown material was 4.74/yd at Walmart, I used a 1/4 yd (should of had a little more although). It has some spandex in it and it is fake suede, great for hats. The green netting matches the lining under the brim. I love this hat!
chemo hats (my hat solution)
This post is for those who have lost their hair due to chemo as I did even though I only had one treatment than quit. I realize others Google “chemo hats” in hopes of solutions and find their way here by my title: Chemo hats.
I have some hat solutions! (after looking online for hats and head wraps that I can’t afford).
-
I have a solid cotton cloth that I wrap around my head for a turban and then tie a pretty sheer or colorful scarf around that to match whatever I’m wearing.
-
I sewed up a dish towel that doesn’t look like a dish towel to make a “nun” hat that I wear under a wig.
-
I’m reading books on millinery from the library to make my own! I’ll update this post later when I finish sewing up some hats with interfacing and material. photos coming soon!
updated: Here they are!
1. Front view of the hat (candle used for the model). 2. back view of hat before I put the bow on it. It has a crown, stand and a brim. That’s it- the 3 main parts to a hat. I made this one and the hat below today (Monday, sept 17th).
.
Here’s the back view of the hat- a nice bow.
Here’s the crown and stand made of stiff interfacing. That’s how I started it.
Here’s another hat:
This hat was made from Laura Ashley material. It is a cloche style. I used real stiff interfacing, good for a firm brim that you can turn any which way. Notice the brim is a different pattern than the hat part. The good thing about this hat and the one above is that they both cover the ears which is needful if your hair hasn’t grown back yet.
Dollar Store Hat
This one is a dollar store hat but I spruced it up with a scarf I had. All these hats cover most of the ears which is something you need when you don’t have hair.
Pet Peeve– chemo gals with baseball caps on, looks weird.
Interesting tid bits:
-
Lots of men over 50 smile as they see me out in public with my big neat TJ Max wide brim hat. I think they just like hats.
-
When I wear my wig—there’s a colored scarf underneath the wig– Ladies notice my wig and scarf and look. Do they know it’s a wig?
- 2 more hats to look at –Sept 24 “New Hat” Sept 25 “Another day, another hat” Don’t miss em!
In gratitude of a fine group of ladies
There’s a fine group of ladies that have been so caring and Christ-like with the news of this breast cancer and I want to tell you about them because these are Christian women shining for the Lord, they’re from church. Cards, notes, gifts, phone calls, visits, meals, and on and on is what they’ve showered me with. I thank the Lord for each and every one of those sister’s in Christ. Here’s a few details:
The never ending balloon
Brenda’s balloon had helium in it that would not quit. This get well balloon on a string lasted about 30 days . I’ve never seen anything like it. It made me smile how it stayed up there in the air.
Special visits
One time I received a visit from 3 ladies (Jackie, Holly, Lisa) and a real nice spaghetti dinner. That was a special day. They even cleaned my kitchen counters and brought me a Bolthouse fruit drink. Dawn and Monica were the first to visit before I had my surgeries.
Gifts that cheer you up
I have a chicken clock that reminds me of Loretta visiting, a chicken watering can from Jackie, phone calls from Paula, and Brenda K.’s cheerfulness and understanding as she went through her mom having cancer.
Helping me when I had surgeries
Kathy and Jackie got me to the hospital when I couldn’t drive.
This isn’t a complete list but wanted you to know that these ladies and others were very kind to me. They are in Christ, meaning they know they are going to heaven because Jesus died for their sins and rose again. Not all ladies believe in the blood of Jesus taking away their sin but these women do.
Hair ideas!
shorter curlshttp://www.hairarchives.com/index.htm Here’s a neat website to explore if you are wanting to try something different and retro with your hair. I really enjoyed it, especially looking at all those nice brushed hair styles. You can try some of the hair-dos and modernize it. I have my hair up in sponge rollers right now as I was looking it over, complete with a spray of Bandit perfume on from the 40′s (although it’s the re-version of it).
I’m appreciating my hair these days since I might have chemotherapy sometime this summer which will make my hair fall out. I bought some curl balm (Regis brand from Walmart) and it works great on my straight hair. It’s one of the (there are hundreds of em) dippity dews that are on the shelves these days. It’s fun to get out of a hair rut and do something different, even more so since spring is here.
Deanna Durbin movies from the 40′s
Her singing is beautiful and she’s still living (80 something years old). Wonder what perfume she wears? 100 men and a girl (made in 1937) is my favorite one I’ve seen of her so far. Leopold Strvowsky the famous orchestra conductor is in that one. Deanna Durbin sing Mozarts Allehluiajah in F major- it’s beautiful. That was the 3rd movie she made (out of 21) and it was about 100 unemployed musicians who made up an orchestra and the “girl” in the title of the movie is Deanna Durbin!
We’ve seen 8 others as well which are as follows: Three Smart girls, Mad about music, First Love, It’s a Date, Nice Girl? It Started with Eve, Can’t help singing, Something in the Wind (not as good as the rest), and lastly- Lady on a train.
She’s so cheery and funny that we just love watching her and listening to her sing a few songs in each movie. Her voice is wonderful. Someday we’ll get a CD of her singing. She lives in Paris now and has for a long time. Still wondering what her favorite perfume is…
made an apron by hand
It’s comfortable, I’m satisfied with it. Sewing by hand isn’t so bad. I enjoyed it! It was an “Easy” stitch’n save M4958, the one that is always in the rack at Walmart. Bought the material there too. My camera isn’t very good but at least you get the idea (click on the middle photo to enlarge it a bit to get a better look at it). I changed things a little and did not include the ruffles. Grease spots on my clothes no more! I’ve ruined more clothes than I’d like to admit because I didn’t have an apron on in the kitchen.
I’m wearing this all day today. One thing I want to mention is that I did not pre-wash the material because I wanted it stiff to work with since I was sewing it by hand.
American Girl movie review- Felicity
Look what we found at the public library- 
The American Girl movie of Felicity. It was fun to watch because I love that time period. Felicity is respectful and is taught restraint which is good to see. When I was 10 years old I had the privilege of going to Williamsburg Virginia with my parents and brother while my other 5 brothers and sisters stayed at home with a babysitter. I think it was some bar convention for my dad (lawyer) that brought us there. Felicity turns ten in the movie and lives in Williamsburg VA during the American Revolution.http://www.americangirl.com/movie/felicity/index.php (The Movie’s website)
What I remember about my trip was everyone dressed up in the time period costume and I had a blacksmith make me a horseshoe with my name on it….spoon bread at every meal (it was delicious) served by waiters in gray ponytails and looking so authentic.
My observations about the movie
I detected Civil war music. Where was the revolutionary flavor in the music?
Felicity’s dress came down pretty low at the neckline and I can’t imagine a ten year old wearing such a low neckline back in the 1700′s. The portrayal of that time period was fascinating to me, the Revolutionary war part of history. Felicity’s maturity seemed so far beyond 10 years old which was a little far fetched but when I read Sue Barton Books (the nurse from the late 40′s) she too seemed much more advanced in decision making and maturity that an average young nurse but, it was my daughter that reminded me – the author of the book wasn’t 20 years old as Sue Barton was, she was much older.
Samantha movie not as good
We watched the Samantha American Girl movie too but I didn’t like that one as much since Samantha’s wasn’t as family centered as Felicity’s movie was. Samantha’s theme was “change the world and make a difference” by her Aunt holding meetings for women to be able to vote and by her speech on the evils of child labor factories.
There is a scene that should have been omitted, the one where Samantha is sad at night and goes out in the dark next door to get her friend to talk over her woes and they sleep in the boat house by the lake. We imitate things we see on DVD’s, even mannerisms, beliefs as well as actions. I hope girls don’t think it normal to run out of the house at night.
About the author of the books
I liked Felicity’s movie better. That is all I’m saying. Felicity is more family orientated. It is amazing how many girls will watch this movie. About the author- Valerie Tripp, I found a 20 minute video on-line about her as she explained how she writes her books and gets her ideas. She mentioned that she wants the viewer (5 through 10 year old girl and some up to 15) to form their own ideas and opinions. I realized an example would be:
1–When Felicity isn’t sure to be a loyalist or a patriot
2–Samantha wondering if women should vote, which side she was on
Interesting to hear from the author. I don’t have a link to that 20 minute video but you can find it by goggling her name. She said the Molly book was the first one she wrote and parts of the book were from her upbringing. I’m curious what the Indian girl’s movie will be like when it comes out since she was of a new age depiction and the Native American Indians didn’t want Jesus the Son of God, only the Heavenly Father which means: no Christian background. I would like to see Kirsten’s movie. Was looking online to find out about Addy’s author but didn’t find out anything on how she got the ideas for the book.
Favorite scene
Here is my favorite scene in the movie: The fireplace roaring and the tall tall candles lit on the dinner table with everyone around it. This winter I’m going to start having those tall candles in candle stick holders at the dinner table. Thanks Felicity for the great idea! or should I say- thanks to the props people at the movie studio.
making your own dress form
Get the idea? Neat isn’t it. I’m making my very own personal dress form to fit my tiny figure. That’s what is on my mind today- home-made dress forms! I’ll have to wait till I can get out to shop for the tape I’ll need. It’s the way to go when you want to sew a dress and need a good fitting bodice. A new dress that looks good is so nice to have, it makes your day! I’m just a novice seamstress but with this dress form everything will work out. http://vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-24.html Here’s the webpage I found these dress form making instructions. There are a few others on the web too, one which uses duct tape.
Update on the dress form! (october 5th,06)
2 weeks later I finally made my own, or should I say- my kids wrapped me up in the paper and made it. I used the “vintage website “page as my guide, here’s how it worked out for me: 
This is my dress form sitting on the dresser. When it was cutting time, I decided to cut right through the dress for more sturdiness to the dress form. I’m glad I did since it sits better on the dresser with the dress under it. This took about an hour and a half with my son and daughter taping me into a mummy.
Luckily an hour before we started this, the UPS man came with a box of jars for the salve I make. Inside the box was a lot of brown wrapping paper crumpled up for padding. We used it and this dress form turned out all the better for it. We mixed paper strips with tape strips to achieve the sturdiness needed. The vintage sewing page says to use heavy gummy paper which maybe was more plentiful in the 30′s when the article was written but I couldn’t find any.
Use duck tape! What I used wasn’t stiff enough. If I had to do it over again I think I’d use duct tape. What I used was ready mask painting tape (scotch brand) and another brand- Henkel Duck masking tape, both were side by side on the shelf at Walmart in the painting isle.
I stuffed the dress form with crumpled up newspaper when it was finished but I have to measure the form for accurate measurements to see if it needs a little more stuffing here and there. The batting stuff you get in the craft store is nice to stuff it with, just more expensive than newspaper.
Wondering why my dress form doesn’t look like the one in the photo above it?(the photo from the vintage sewing site). The answer is that my shape is more like a big block rather than the curved shape in the first photo. We’re all different!
The fruit of the Spirit
We memorize them in sets of 3 and if you think on each set you see they go together in three’s, for instance: love, joy, peace go together and compliment one another. Joy and peace together are great to have. Have you experience them?
Long-suffering, gentleness and goodness go together too. You can suffer long with someone’s ways when you have a gentleness about you combined with goodness. Long-suffering is essential in getting along with a spouce, children, friends and everyone else.
Faith, meekness, and temperance (self control) are in harmony with one another to. Meekness is the absence of anger and when we put our faith in God along with self control, it makes a good three some.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22
Tea time is a splendid time of the day
oil painting by Charles Duch
It’s a splendid time of the day, tea time. When you have a cup of afternoon tea on a regular basis, it gives you order in your 24 hour day as the late afternoon/evening is emerging. No matter what is happening in your world, a few cups of tea work wonders, whether sorrows arise or perhaps a smooth sailing day is upon you, with guests or by yourself, the tea hour is a splendid time of the day.
Wishing you and yours a delightful tea hour.
Isabella Alden- a special author
Isabella Alden, a great author from the late 1800's
Her books are for grown ups as well as children.
She’s a special author who is now with the Lord but is still worthy of much attention on account of her (almost 100) books that she authored. This is Christian reading at its best and even though it is fiction reading, many of the plots and characters were taken from her real life experiences of being a Pastor’s wife somewhere around New York in the mid 1800′s which leads me to believe her writings are not all fiction.
People get saved in her books and grow in the Lord. There are marriages and would be marriages in many of the books which are presented in a wholesome way. These are not romance novels at all. Some of her books are geared to younger girls and some to boys and some are favorites of grown women.
The issue of drinking alcohol is brought up in lots of the books and she writes about it effectively. Keep in mind of the time period of when she is writing ( 1860-1930) and you realize that some things never change. Liquor and immorality go together and will always be a temptation for young people. She hates strong drink too and I believe one book in particular made a lasting impression on my son when he read it. “Three People” was the name of that book. I wonder how common it was for moms to put hard liquor in the baby’s bottle to get them to sleep at night? It happened in her book.
I love this author so much , one reason for that is her understanding of sin and human nature is obvious. A Pastor’s wife often has good wisdom about discerning character which is the case with this author. Keepers of the Faith out of Ironwood MI is where you can find reprints of her books at a fair price.
Do you like history? How about that specific time period in which she is writing? Folks really did get run over by carriages, trampled on by the horses. We are a product of our time period in history. She’s a special author; Pansy was her nickname and you can find out more about her online.
photo from readseries.com website
red carnations
pansey wreath 1995
