The Provision Room

I am so excited about a brand new blog called The Provision Room, named in honor of Five Little Peppers and How They Grew.  (You can get a free Kindle copy of the book here.)  My daughter and her friend have a vision for their homes and lives that can help all of us out, too!  


The mission for their blog in their words:

To prepare our homes—kitchens, pantries, and gardens—to be ready in case of emergencies or unexpected life changes. To do so we will not increase our food budgets nor cause our family to subsist on bread and water. We will strive for the following ideals:

~Real Food
We will not recommend you go out and buy food-like substances, just because they have a shelf life. We will learn to make Real Food last.

~Organic, local and sustainable whenever possible
This is not always possible, but is a lot more possible than people think. We’ll try to show you how we feed our families while being true to our values.

~Frugality
We will search out things that are genuinely good deals and not just short term solutions. We will strive to be good stewards of the family finances.

~Environmentally friendly
We will try to find ways to store our food and stock our pantries without resorting to a bunch of disposables that overfill already overfull landfills.

~Transparency
We will not act like we have all the answers and will show you our mistakes and learn to laugh at them!


They are also on Facebook charming us all!  You can also read more about them on the Prosperous and Successful blog were they are being featured this week.


This week they are having an pretty fantastic giveaway to celebrate their grand opening with all kinds of chances to win.  They are giving away a $50 gift card to Azure Standard, an autographed book entitled Year of Plenty that I can't wait to read, and a case of Venice Premium Biscotti.  How fun is that?!  The giveaway ends tomorrow (Wednesday) night, so hurry on over the party!

National Wear Your Apron Day

Today was National Wear Your Apron Day.

Measuring Cups

On Thanksgiving, Serena had some of my measuring cups lined up ready to go for the next recipe.  They looked so pretty and cute, we just had to take a picture!

Aren't these little measuring tea cups adorable?  I bought them at Pier 1 one day as a gift to myself!  I didn't need measuring cups (I have lots and use lots of ulitarian ones.), but I did NEED these pretty ones!  (I looked online.  They don't seem to be available, but they do have some pretty red and white retro ones....that someone dear to me just bought!) 

The little tin one I have used since I was a child.  My mother had two of them, and now I have them!  They are old and bent up, but they make me smile when I use them!

Visible Love

With the day quickly approaching, I've been adding a bit of Valentine decor here and there whenever the inspiriation hits. With all the red and pink hearts everywhere, my thoughts have turned to love.

Love is not merely a feeling, it is an action. This past week, I read the phrase, “Work is love made visible.” It really struck a chord with me.





It truly does take love to make the work good. When work is done in love, whether the work is easy or hard, the love is made visible to those around us. Sometimes, it will be our love for God that will provoke us to work. Sometimes, it will be our love for the recipient themselves. But, the best work is that which is prompted by love.

When we work, if love flows out of us, it will show. Look around. Does your love show? Does your love of God show up in the care you give to His children and His house? Does your love of your family show in a tidy home, clean clothes, and nutritious meals? Does your love of your husband show in the graciousness with which you serve him?

If, when others look at your surroundings – whether at home, at your job, in your car, at church, or at play, they cannot see work, they will quite naturally assume there is no love.

Love without work is empty. Work without love is bitter. But, when love and work blend together, we will cultivate joy – both within ourselves and in our loved ones.

The Family That Works Together Can Play Together

Ah, the stress-free life!

Putting It All In Order

I organized one (yes, one) of my utensil drawers. I did not take a before picture. Just imagine all that is in the organizer (and there is a second little layer there in the middle) just dumped out into the drawer. That's what it looked like. Utensils going every which way. I could usually find what I wanted with only a few seconds of rummaging through. Usually.

But, I've been on a mission for awhile now. A mission to get and stay organized. I get a little motivation and do real well, and then something happens and I slip a little. But, I'm back on the wagon!

My house is clean, almost always company ready, and looks nice; but only I (and family members) know that utensil drawers need help or that my husband's closet needs an overhaul!

Why am I on this mission?

Because my goal is to get organized so that I can work toward my mission in life!

Yes, I have a REAL mission -- or vision -- for my life. And it is NOT working forever to get organized! I need to be organized so that I have more time and less stress! My mission of putting everything in order is so that I can get on with the next step towards my vision!

Here is my vision for my life, drafted five years ago:


My desire is to live a life that is devoted to God and my family.

I see everything I do blessing God, others, or myself.

I see myself living a life that is not being directed by stress, worry, or urgency.

I see myself living life beautifully.

I see myself making life more pleasant for myself and others.

I see myself living an enhanced life.

A Home Without a Woman!

"A home without a woman! What a place it was! It was almost worse than a home without a man, and Elsie had always thought that would be most stupid and dull. But a home without a woman was no home at all; she had seen that today. It was a shell with the spirit gone."


The Honor Girl, by Grace Livingston Hill, 1927

Happy Mother's Day!

"Someone must see the family as worth fighting for, worth calling a career, worth the hard work of training a child in godliness, worth the relentless tasks involved in running a home...This 'someone' is the wife, the mother, and the homemaker and that, as such, she must embrace a life of being the giver. That's our role as mothers." ~Elizabeth George

Links #4

It has been a long time since I shared some links. Here are a couple from recent days on some of my favorite blogs.

Lessons from Vintage Fiction "There's no such thing as a family that runs itself...."

Simple, my way "I don't know if all this qualifies as today's version of 'Simple Living'.For me it is Simply Living, the only way that makes sense to me."

I'm afraid I might be a laundry room weirdo. "because I do find joy in laundry, in being home...in nesting."

Taste of Home Entertaining Party Well, yes, this one may be self promotion.... *smile*

Laying Out Clothes The Night Before --

The key to a bit of sanity in the morning.....

Principle of Chaos

"The principle of chaos is common to many stories of creation. Chaos is often the starting point and apparently a good beginning for an act of creation. It's a state of freedom and the possibilities are limitless. You can channel your longings and ideas in rearranging and recreating. In essence, you can make something from chaos, which reflects what is genuinely you, for now or the future." Chapter 8, page 122