Read MO to Learn MO!

For many years, some friends and I have had a book club. Aside from our monthly meetings, we have been friends for decades and taught together. We always enjoy reading our selections, but this past summer we decided to tweak our book club for this coming year. Inspired by my aunt's group in Indiana, we switched gears and transformed from a book club to a quest club since we're questing for knowledge. I was in charge of mapping out our new year (we meet August through May). Our state is our theme and everything will be related to Missouri in some fashion. We're going to Read MO to learn MO this season! I will share our selected title each month in a post so that you, too, can learn "mo" about the state! 

Did you know that Missouri was home to a giantess? Considered the tallest woman of her era, Ella Kate Ewing was born in 1872 in northeastern MO. Although born of average size, she began really growing when she was seven years old. By the time she reached adulthood, Ella stood 8 feet, 4 inches! As you can imagine, a young lady her size was met with many challenges and people were sometimes inconsiderate of her feelings. Despite that, she grew into a remarkable person who was loving and kind and became known as the "Gentle Giantess". For many years, Ella traveled nationally and internationally touring with museums, exhibitions, circuses and a world's fair. For example, she was part of the Barnum and Bailey Circus, Ringling Brothers' Circus and the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. People would come and pay to see the giantess on display. Sometimes she would hold a $1,000 bill in her hand. Anyone who could reach it, could have it. No one was ever successful, though! Going so many places was an opportunity not many had in her day and so people enjoyed speaking to Ella about the spots she'd visited and the things she had done. Additionally, she earned a large sum of money. For example, in 1907 she earned $115/week while working with the Ringling Brothers' Circus. To put things in perspective, a clown in the same show made $20/week. Her caring heart led her to be generous with her funds to help others. She was active in community involvement and deeply rooted in her church.  Ella ultimately had a home built to her specifications with a six foot bathtub, eight foot doors and large furniture--including a six foot tall chest and a bed that was nine feet and six inches long. 

In the last few years of her life, particularly, Ella struggled with some health issues and in 1913, at age 40,  she died from pulmonary tuberculosis. Back in her day, the medical community didn't understand the condition whereby her body overproduced the hormone causing abnormal growth. There is now a lake named in memory of her. In 1969, the MO Soil Conservation Service built it in a county near her hometown and it was named Ella Ewing Lake. 

Learning about Missouri's giantess was very interesting! I included pictures of the two books used for our meeting. The first is a children's book and the second was a gem in our local library. It provided a rich background of knowledge! Stay tuned for next month's book for our club as we read MO to learn MO!

A Haul

Who likes a good bargain?  My mother and I stumbled upon a few at yard sales in recent weeks, so I thought I would share.

You know I am a Mary Engelbreit fan, so when I spotted this 20 by 24 inch professionally-matted signed print for $5, I knew it needed to come home to be displayed in my craft room. 

This rustic farmhouse-look church birdhouse caught my eye with its doorknob perch. It was cheap-cheap at 50 cents and will serve as a cute decoration.

This new 2 inch binder was a practical purchase since I needed one for some committee paperwork. I just looked it up on the store's website and it sells for $8.99, which makes me relieved that I only paid a dollar.

I'm a fan of seasonal paper napkins and enjoy using them, so was happy to pick up these new, unopened packages for a quarter.

I was tickled to find this bin of new, still tagged water bottles for 50 cents each. I bought all she had and all seven will go in boxes I fill for Samaritan's Purse each Christmastime. The woman even threw in the fabric bin!

This sweet elephant stuffed animal will make some child happy! As you know, I collect all sorts of stuffed animals throughout the summer for three different organizations and never pay more than a quarter each.

This item stopped me in my tracks. As we pulled-up to this yard sale, I saw the gorgeous quilt tossed over a wardrobe box. It's full/queen size and is in perfect condition. Always having been used for display purposes, it has no blemishes or marks of any kind. Such a beauty would be costly, right? I asked the man how much it was and when he replied "$15", I couldn't believe my ears. You will, no doubt, be seeing it in a fall décor post in the near future! 😊

Have you picked-up any good bargains lately?

Miracle Pie

I have seen this recipe before and was always intrigued by it, but not until recently did I try it. I was inspired when it appeared in the Amish Cook column which doesn't happen to run in our local paper. It is featured each Sunday in my aunt and uncle's, though, and so each week my aunt clips the article for me and saves them for a month. Faithfully, she has sent me month's installments at a time for years. Not long ago, Miracle Pie was highlighted and so I made it to carry-in with a meal I had provided.

Miracle Pie

1 cup sugar   (Jeremiah 6:20)
1/4 cup butter    (Genesis 18:8)
4 eggs  (Deuteronomy 22:6)
1/2 cup flour (2 Kings 7:18)
2 cups milk (Hebrews 5:13)
1 cup coconut (Genesis 13:11)
1/4 tsp. salt (Matthew 5:13)
1/2 tsp. baking powder (2 Kings 23:15)
1 tsp. vanilla (no verse listed)

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend thoroughly. Pour into a 9 inch pie pan that has been greased and floured. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. A thick crust will form on the bottom, an egg-flavored custard in the middle and the coconut topping above.

Now what intrigued me most about this recipe was how the ingredients were tied to scripture, so I also listed the Bible verses. Naturally I cross-referenced each ingredient, though, and discovered that they are not all clearly listed in the referenced text. For example, I cannot figure out how Genesis 13:11 has anything to do with coconut. At any rate, it is interesting!

Have a blessed weekend!

Summer Vignettes

I realize I never showed my kitchen vignettes since I switched from patriotic mode after the fourth of July. As a quick post, I am sharing my roosters today...even though they've been strutting around for weeks now! I already had everything that's been used.

I think you actually got a glimpse of this when I posted about the pickles I recently canned because I switched things around to include them after my class.

You certainly recognize Mr. Rooster because he has been used in various locations throughout the kitchen, butler's pantry and dining room. I just love his rich, regal colors. It's fun to add a trio of any kind to a decorative tray that you already have on hand. I've had this chocolate one around for a long time. The rooster, a stack of plates and vintage fabric napkins grace the kitchen island.

This last vignette is in the corner behind the sink (note the faucet in the front left side of the photo).

Have a blessed evening!

A Peachy "Field Trip"

We awakened to gorgeous weather! The humidity is low, the skies are clear and there's a gentle cool breeze. Best of all, the meteorologist promises that these conditions will stretch over the next several days. Deal! It is the perfect day to be out and that's exactly what my parents and I did. We took a "field trip" to get fresh peaches this morning. We love going to Calhoun County in IL. Since it's mostly surrounded by water, we took a ferry.

We waited for this long barge to pass before the ferry could proceed.

Calhoun County is a 37 mile long peninsula between the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. The high, rolling hills make it absolutely beautiful countryside.

The beautiful land is also perfect growing grounds and there is little more than farms and orchards throughout the region. Traveling the quiet two-lane roads, we made the trip from the river to one of our favorite produce stands. We've been going there, seasonally,  for years and years to buy peaches, apples and pumpkins. This is just a small glimpse into one of the numerous orchards.

Nearly every variety of peach is available, at some point, in Calhoun. Today we picked-up Cresthavens. Sweet and nearly fuzzless, they're supposed to be very versatile. Developed in South Haven, MI about 50 years ago, these peaches have a good flavor to which my dad could attest since he had his complimentary overripe fruit (the gal gave us each one) consumed before we ever pulled out of the parking lot! 

In addition to these picturesque peaches, we also bought fresh tomatoes

and the first of their Jonathan apple crop (picked a few hours before we arrived).

I bought peach salsa, which I had never had. When I got home, I sampled some with a few tortilla chips with my lunch and I am already regretting not getting more of it. The sweet chunks of peach complement the hot salsa and it is delicious!! I had originally planned to prepare pork with it, but I think I may save the salsa for eating with chips. If you've never tried it, I'd recommend you check your local produce stand. I did a quick search and it looks like Walmart carries a salsa like this (although not the brand I have, so I can't vouch for it).

My mother also purchased a jar of sugar-free peach preserves for  my husband since he couldn't join us. Look at the rich color of the preserves.  I'm sure it will be tasty on toasted English muffins.

It was a nice day and a peachy field trip! 🍑

Tuesday's Tablescape

Our day began with clouds and rain and it's just beginning to clear a bit. To offset the grayness, I decided to set a bright and cheery table and you can't get much perkier than these lovely dishes!

Do you also want to straighten this knife?! 😉

I'm sure you remember these beauties because I have set several tables with them since receiving the set from a friend (click here to read the story). I love them! Today, I used a bright yellow cloth that I recently purchased. I then topped it with an old lace cloth I have had forever.

My green footed glasses go with many tablescapes. They came from Old Time Pottery and were under a dollar each.

Isn't the detail wonderful on these pieces?

The set's gravy boat serves as a nice centerpiece filled with magnolia leaves. 

 I hope this finds you have a bright and cheerful day!

Ready?

Are you ready for the solar eclipse? As you can see, we're preparing!😎 After all the hoopla, the highly-anticipated historical event is finally here. When the disk of the moon covers the disk of the sun, will you be ready? Ocular safety is of utmost importance, so be smart when viewing it. You probably already have your glasses, but remember they won't do you any good if you don't wear them. Don't leave them lying about.

Be sure to read, understand and follow the rules that come with your certified solar eclipse shades. 

Be bright and

Wear your glasses right!

Have a wonderful day!

A Thrifted Little Church

Today is National Thrift Store Day. This project sort of qualifies as a related topic because it began with a thrifted item. While I didn't get this from a thrift store, it was acquired from a yard sale last Saturday morning. I spotted this little church sitting on a table. 

Sweet, right? Raise your hand if it reminds you of a chapel from Jan Karon's Mitford series. The moment I saw it, I knew it would be good for a project, but I didn't snap it up. At the same sale, though, I did find a very nice heavy man's coat in perfect condition. I asked the woman how much it was and she replied a dollar! I was thrilled because I wanted it for the stash that I'm squirreling away for our church's coat drive this fall. As I was about to hand her the money, I glanced at the church again and asked how much she wanted for it. When she told me it was fifty cents, I took it! It's in perfect condition and has nice colors, but I knew I could do something different with it. A mini lightbulb inside and some open windowpanes create a very soft glow.

Give me a can of spray paint and call me happy. 😉 I used ivory white to cover the exterior. After it dried, I dabbed on glue and used some extra fine glitter from my card-making supplies.

This is a birds-eye view.

A little project like this is therapeutic! I had fun making a mess while changing my thrifted little church. I think it will look nice nestled in with pine boughs this Christmastime. Happy National Thrift Store Day!

National S'mores Day!

Today is National S'mores Day. Remember when you were growing up and you used to make the sweet treats? Did your marshmallows get black and crusty? Have you ever had the strings of melted marshmallow stick to your face? For generations, these nearly pure-sugar treats have been enjoyed around campfires in the summertime. Some sources credit scouting groups with their invention and others site them as having been around since the early 1900s. The name is likely to have evolved from people asking for "some more". One thing is for certain and that is that s'mores can be addicting.

Several years ago, one of my sweet families at school gifted me with a dessert set at Christmastime. The set contained cookie mixes which were baked in this cute 5 inch cast iron skillet. It was perfect for holiday entertaining and I, of course, kept the skillet. It's just right for making oven s'mores. I sprinkled chocolate chips in the bottom, mini-marshmallows on top and then stuck it in the oven to melt. Graham crackers are used to scoop out the gooey contents. When is the last time you had s'mores? Do they bring back happy memories?

I hope your day has s'more fun! 

A First!

For the first time, I canned pickles. I need to add that it was a highly supervised, step-by-step activity as I was in a class at the time. I was excited when our favorite local produce stand hosted the opportunity, taught by University of MO Extension,  this past Saturday. When it was first advertised a few weeks ago, I singed-up for it.

It was a good experience since I learned a lot and it's something I would not have tried on my own. The instructor took us through the entire process and, in the end, each class member took home our own pint of pickles.

Canning, we were taught, is regaining popularity. I know that aside from tomatoes, my mother didn't can as I was growing up and she still doesn't. My grandma, though, grew up on a farm and in her day,  they canned everything. I loved hearing her tell stories of their fully-stocked cellar. She told us that it was her job to use the feather duster on the rows and rows of canned fruits, vegetables and meats and how when she did so, the glass jars would catch the sun and sparkle. She found that a highly satisfying chore. 

Have you ever canned? If so, what was your specialty? Did you ever make pickles?

Tuesday's Tablescape

At this point in the summer, it seems bees are working flowers everywhere you look! The busy little pollinators inspired me to do a table using their colors.

I bumbled-around my kitchen locating dishware that would work for today. In the end, I paired my everyday white and these black salad plates. The sunflower doily conceals the snowman printed in the center of each plate! Shhh! 😉

I love the black and white checked cloth which I layered atop a bright yellow covering. Can  you 'bee-lieve' that's from my childhood days? Growing up in Indianapolis, we always celebrated the Indianapolis 500 with this cloth which mimics the race flags.

Aren't these paper napkins the bee's knees? 

I was buzzing-around getting out this cute little bee. My grandparents gave it to me when I was in grade school and I always thought it was adorable.

The honey is from my friend as she and her husband have an apiary and supply us with this sweet treat!

Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. 

                                                                                                                Proverbs 16:24