free indeed...

As I was baking these pies this morning for our 4th of July celebration later today

I was listening to some music on Pandora.

First, a little Sousa to get in the holiday spirit.

Then, some Country/Bluegrass Gospel.

(Nothing too howly mind you. Can't stand that!)

My thoughts began to center around "freedom".

I'm so thankful for our country.

I'm thankful for the freedoms that we have, at least for now, in America.

Freedom to worship our God.

Freedom to homeschool. 

***

I'm especially thankful that my true citizenship is NOT here on earth.

In the words of our dear Lord Jesus:

"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

Freedom from sin.

Freedom from fear of death.

Freedom from self.

Free indeed!

***

Enjoy your 4th!

in the good ol' summertime...

Ready to hunt down some good deals at a local flea market with my little sister. ;)

For some strange reason,

 I'm actually looking forward to summer this year.

I can't even tell you why...

I just am!

In the photo above I'm wearing my new summery seersucker dress that I made.

I'll be wearing mostly dresses this summer. 

I've just found them very comfortable as of late.

I even made a cotton slip for underneath.

Nylon slips are like some kind of torture to me once it's above 75*! :D

At that flea market I scored a few vintage dresses & some fabric!

Hopefully they will be featured in a future post.

One of the dresses, a farm-tastic brown checkered shirt-dress, fits like it was made just for me!

 On Memorial Day I made fried chicken (for the 1st time!) for my family.

Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of that,

but I did get a few pics of the strawberry pie I made.

Nothing says "summertime" like fresh strawberry pie!

I used Mary Jane's Farm's Butter Cookie Pie Crust recipe.

It is very good! I usually make my lard pie crust, but with strawberry pie I really like a butter crust.

 Don't for get to save the hulls for the chick-ie-poos!

 I added fresh blueberries to one of them just 'cuz I had them.

What is a slice of strawberry pie without a scoop (or two) of homemade vanilla ice cream?

Here's the recipe:

Sky High Strawberry Pie

2 lbs fresh strawberries

1 1/2 c. sugar

6 T. cornstarch

2/3 c. water

1 - 9 inch baked pie shell

Hull & quarter strawberries into a large bowl. (Save the scraps for the chickens!)

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar & cornstarch.

Add 3 cups of strawberries and mash well with a potato masher.

Add water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook & stir for 2 minutes.

Remove from heat. Let cool slightly. Add to remaining strawberries in the large bowl.

(You can remove a cup or so of the strawberries to make a pretty design on the top of the pie if you wish. I didn't do this 'cuz you can't tell what the pie looks like if you put enough ice cream or whipped cream on top!) ;P

Chill for about 20-30 minutes.

Pile into baked shell.

Chill for 2 or 3 hours.

Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Yum!

^_^

Enjoy!

room re-do...

Having recently rearranged my room

I thought I'd share my favorite bits.

Here is Donna Sue sporting a "new" farm chic frock.

I found it at a coffee shop (of all places!)

Pinned to her frock is this cute tchotchke:

a brooch of mason jars (How cute is that?!)

A gift from my maternal grandma. :)

I left my top shelf pretty much the same.

(Cuz I liked it! :D )

The bottom shelf I did farm themed for the summer. 

My collection of vintage farmy children's books are displayed in a vintage Purina chick feeder!

I scored that sweet thing on a recently antiquing day trip with a dear friend.

A favorite photo of my dear Grandma Lou, seated on a hay mound in 1938.

Oh, how I miss her.

I used to clean for her every week. She had THE BEST stories.

This sweet photo is not of a relative of mine.

It just makes me smile every time I see it.

It kinda reminds me of my daddy & me!

Sweet mornin' sunshine!

Have I ever told y'all I love vintage linens? ;)

(The sheets are actually Simply Shabby Chic, but oh so vintage-y!)

My bedside "table" - a child's chair with stack-o-books.

The first sweet rose of the year.

Isn't it sweet!

Wish I could attach the smell for ya!

Hope you're enjoying this fine weather as much as I!

^_^

spring has sprung...

The woods are a breathtaking sight with the redbuds putting on their show.

(My niece Abs thinks that it is just plain wrong to call these trees redbuds when in fact they are pink!)

I just can't get enough of daffs!

Sadly, they are just about done for the year.

I love these little wild violets.

They grow everywhere!

I remember picking them for Mayday gifts when I was a little girl

& we still lived in town.

The chickie-poos are getting big!

This is one of the lil roosters.

He is the lucky one who will get to...live.

He's quite friendly (for now at least),

here he is trotting up to say "hello!"

The day of reckoning is coming for the extra roosters,

as well as my impulse buy of meatbirds.

No photos of the meaties.

You wouldn't want to see them any way.

They look like a cross between a chicken & a bulldog.

Here are my newest little feathered friends-

Four sweet little ducklings! ^_^

I'm hoping there are some females in this bunch-

they lay the BEST eggs for baking.

Well that's what I'm up to...

how 'bout you?

i've got sunshine on a cloudy day...