searching for

a good every day bread recipe. There are so many out there, and I haven't made bread in ages! I just hate spending the money on decent bread and the store when I know I can make it at home much better and probably much cheaper too. If anyone has a recipe suggestion, I'm all ears!

In His Hands

Dear Father, thank You for this new baby.
Would You protect and nurture this baby and bring this pregnancy to full term.
In labor, would You remove all fear and replace it with faith and expectation.
Please give those attending the birth wisdom to take the best care of mother and baby.
Please let this baby be born normal and whole, healthy and strong, and at home with no complications with baby or mother.
Father, thank you for hearing my prayer, for I pray in the name of him who is called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Amen.
by Donna Wilson

I received this prayer card tucked in with the box of medical supplies I ordered for our home birth. I ordered from a lovely family-run store, called In His Hands. Ordering was simple, the package was shipped that day, and came in a timely manner. All three of those things seem to be hard to come by today, so a special note saying thanks is in order I believe!

What to wear in the winter.

A friend sent me a message earlier this week saying that she was going to an event in February and needed to know exactly what to wear. I thought rather than reply to one person, I could make a post out of it because I’m sorely lacking in “look what I made” posts. This isn't the finished article, but I thought I would post it while the ideas are percolating in my mind and add to it or edit it later.

My first thoughts are that what your clothing needs are in the winter and summer really aren’t that different. In the winter you just need more!

I’m assuming she’s going to an event that is dated somewhere during the Civil War and it’s not a pre-war event. Working on that assumption here is the list I would prepare for myself before I went. I love lists!!!

Sturdy leather boots

Stockings – preferably wool

One pair of drawers for every day

One chemise for every day

A shortened petticoat to wear next to the drawers

Skirt support *

Three to five petticoats depending on the circumstances of the event

One sturdy dress – preferably wool

This list is the typical list I would recommend for anyone going to an average weekend event. The only differences I would have would be the textiles recommended and those would change with the weather.

Additionally I would plan on bringing a few things because this event is * I think* is taking place during winter in the Midwest.

One hood

Outerwear, either a coat or multiple shawls if you don’t have a coat.

Rubber over-boots to protect your leather ones

Mittens

Scarf

*It is my belief that most women attending Civil War reenactments would be portraying someone existing in the middle class of society. From the research I have done, and the tons of research belonging to other individuals that I have read, or discussed I believe that the vast majority of women would be wearing skirt support on a daily basis. Either a cage crinoline or a covered hoop, but something would have been worn. There are plenty of working circumstances that would limit the size of the support, but not necessarily negate the use of said support.

just a lil post

to say that I haven't done anything blog worthy in awhile...but I hope to soon! I'm getting the itch to sew again, mainly because I have a looming deadline. I figure that most of what needs to be finished for the summer needs to be finished before spring if it's going to be finished at all! This means 3 things.
1. I need to finish clearing off my interim sewing desk.
2. I need to finish my mending pile before I start a new project.
3. I need to go into my unheated sewing room to find fabric...and it's a scary mess up there!

I feel like I've been constantly getting yelled at to slow down and stop doing physical things lately (luckily none of this has come from my midwives) so today I'm taking it fairly easy. Hopefully I'll finish at least #1, maybe even #2 on my list tonight. That is after I do barn chores and make supper.

P.S. there has been talk of picking up our sew alongs where we left off last summer!

The vaccination debate

Since we're having a baby, I've been doing lots of research on alternatives to lots of things. Everything from homebirths to co-sleeping. Tonight I'm starting the long trek down the vaccination road. There is so much contradicting information out there!
My family has allergic reactions to some vaccines so I definitely am wary about them! I know that I've read some blogs where people have discussed their views. If anyone has any info out there on the truth behind vaccines I'd truly appreciate it getting passed on. Most of my research has come up with government websites, and honestly after reading the CDC's views on homebirths I'm not too keen on what they have to say.
Thanks,
Jenny

Christmas Decorations are coming

I have photos...somewhere, of our Christmas decorations. I have two left to finish, hopefully tonight since the hubby is gone, and then I'll try to post all the pics. For now I've got to try to unfreeze our barn pipes. Hauling water from the house, by myself, while six months pregnant is not something I'm enjoying! Off to the barn, and hopefully back inside before I too freeze!
Love,
Jenny

my reason for a lack of motivation

Here it is, my reason for why I have barely posted in the last few months...I'll be 6 months along next Monday. It seems like time is flying so quickly, I just can't keep up with everything that is going on! Were not finding out the gender, and we're planning a home birth, so it's going to be quite an experience for us!

On other notes, I've been working on finishing up some Christmas decorations, and have a few gifts to get made up so hopefully more posts soon!
Love,
Jenny