Book Review and Quotes..

 ~ I have recently read the book "The Redemption of Sarah Cain." It was an excellent book. I love Beverly Lewis's writing, and I would suggest this book to anyone. It is such a heartwarming, attention-capturing book. There is a movie that is "based" off of this book, but it is *nothing* like the book! I will admit that I watched the movie first. I *loved* the movie, and I cried because it was such a touching movie. Now that I have read the book, I realize how different the movie was and how much they strayed from the amazing words of Beverly Lewis. I would, still, suggest watching the movie but *before* reading the book, if you have not read it. The movie is wonderful but as a movie that is not based off of the book because it is nothing like the book, other than having the same characters and same problem. The movie is great as just being another movie, so watch it before you read the book. (This is the only time I would *ever* say such a thing because I am all for reading the book before the movie, but the movie was so loving that I wouldn't want it to be neglected for it's straying from the book.) The book was better than the movie (all books usually are), but it was such an exciting, can't-put-the-book-down page-turner. The whole way of how the situation was handled in the book was more imaginable, and you could really feel into the heart of Sarah Cain, which wasn't as easy to do in the movie. You know *so* much more about Sarah's past in the book, and you really feel for her. You will laugh, smile, squeal, and cry (maybe) all in one. I would definitely recommend this to somebody who is looking for a good read. And for some reason, I felt like I could somewhat relate to it in a way (even though I know nobody Amish).


 

 ~ And you don't have to watch the movie first, or at all, but I just suggest watching it first because it is still a delightful movie no matter how far it strays from the book. I'm even wondering if it wasn't called "The Redemption of Sarah Cain" because it was *so* much different than the book itself. I just really like the movie, too, because I cry every time I watch it. But I would definitely read the book again. I leave it to you and whatever you decide to do. Maybe you don't even want to read this book *or* watch the movie. :o) It is just a fantastic, heartfelt story that I quite enjoyed.

 

From the book:

 

"A man works from sun to sun, a woman's work is never done."

 

"Snow has a way of gathering ever so gracefully on pine boughs and old trellises. The more silhouettes you can make in your winter garden, the better."

 

"Journal-keeping is a good discipline, for those who are so inclined."

 

 

::Just Because I Like::

 

 

"Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."

 

"Goodnight, goodnight! parting is such a sweet sorrow,

That I shall say good night till it be morrow."

 

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is east, and Juliet is the sun."

 

"See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.

O that I were a glove upon that hand

That I might touch that cheek!"

 

"Two households, both alike in dignity

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows

Do with their death bury their parents' strife."

 

-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet <3







 

:~:Just Another Post:~:

 ~ It seems to be quite busy around here. Or I just haven't been able to find the time to blog in the past couple days. Sometimes (a lot of the time) I wish there could be more time in the day to read or write or cook, but there just isn't. That is why it is so imperative to use the time you do have wisely.
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

                                     -Ephesians 5:15-17 



~ This (below) is a picture of, really, an amazing project I recently finished for school. It was called my "Proverbs Project," and there were many options to choose from. I chose to, while reading Proverbs, pick and choose my favorite of the wonderful proverbs. I would then write a paragraph about the proverb, how I interpret it, how it applies to my life, and how I want to live out the proverb each day. It was really an interesting project.

                                     

 

~ Cooking is one of my most favorite things to do - if you haven't yet noticed by the recipes that I post. I love baking desserts! It is one of my absolute favorites. I have recently tried out this cookie recipe from one of my Amish cookbooks from the library, and it was *extremely* successful! They are *so* delightful to the taste buds. Next time I am planning on making them a little smaller though. :o)

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

2 cups flours

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup shortening, or butter (2 sticks), softened

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup chopped, unsalted peanuts, optional

(I did not use peanuts)

 

Instructions:

 

 

1. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together in medium-sized bowl. Set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl, cream together sugars and shortening (butter).

3. Add eggs and vanilla to creamed mixture. Beat until fluffy.

4. Stir in peanut butter.

5. Add sifted ingredients and mix well.

6. Stir in chocolate chips and peanuts, if you wish.

 

 

7. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto well-greased cookie sheets. 

 8. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Or until golden brown around edges.

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 ~ This morning I walked upstairs to see this beautiful sunrise peeking in through the window.

 ~ This is Darcy; we are dogsitting her for the week. It is so lovely to have a smaller dog who can just jump up on you and snuggle in your warm lap. :o)

~ After my brother and I were finished with school for the day, we went exploring in our backyard where there is a big field and this iced-over pond. I thought this was such a wonderful angle for the picture, but the colors were much prettier in person.

~ Still reading The Redemption of Sarah Cain. :o) This is my first time reading Beverly Lewis. I have to say that I really like her writing. I think I want to read the book The Confession next.

~ Reading this quote for the first time:

 

 “The best thing you can do for your fellow next to rousing his conscience, is —
not to give him things to think about -
but to wake things up that are in him;
or say, to make him think things for himself.”

 

 ~ George MacDonald

 

~Yesterday, when going to homeschoolers at the library, we made "homemade" root beer, butter, and snow ice cream. It was quite interesting to learn the history behind some things, like the root beer. The reason I put quotations around "homemade" is because we used root beer extract. We didn't actually use the root of a sarsaparilla plant to make it, which is one of the things they would have used. Root beer was originally called sarsaparilla. If men didn't want an alcoholic drink when going to the saloon, they would ask for a sarsaparilla.  

::Happenings::

~ A few lovely, wintry pictures that my dear mother took. Now that the snow is gone, I can't wait until the nice, warm weather comes.

~ This morning was my first Youth With Vision meeting of 2013. Youth With Vision is a group of high school that fight to prevent drug abuse in our communities. I am the only homeschooler in this group, but I joined before I came homeschooled, though homeschoolers can join, too. Today we were planning our trip to the capitol to speak with our legislators, and I get to speak about our #1 priority! I am very nervous being that I'm not the best public speaker, but I really need to grow out of my shell and endeavor to become more comfortable with public speaking. :o)

~ Tonight I am going bowling with some of my close friends, so I hope that will go well! I love bowling! ... even though I'm not the best. It is fun to bowl with friends.

~Recipe~Books~Animals~

 

Chewy Chocolate Chip Bars

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar, divided

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tbsp. water

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs, separated

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

 

Instructions:

 

Preheat over to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl, cream butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add water, vanilla, and egg yolks (reserve whites in separate bowl). Beat for 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

 

Spread into lightly greased 9x13-inch baking pan.

Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; add remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar and blend well.

Carefully spread over chocolate chips. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. (I only did half with nuts.)

Bake for 35 minutes or until meringue is golden brown. (You are going to need to bake it for longer than 35 minutes. Just keep checking periodically until the batter is fully cooked.) Cut with a sharp knife while still hot. Yields 3 dozen bars (depending how you cut).

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::World War I Adventure::

 

~ These pictures are from our second adventure to this interesting and delightful museum. The second visit was just as splendid as the first. It is so amazing how much information you can take in at once, and it was just *so* interesting to see it all. My favorite part of the museum is seeing all of the propaganda posters for enlisting or for war bonds. It interesting to see their techniques of advertising and how creative they could become.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

~ I am currently reading "Sense and Sensibility" and "The Redemption of Sarah Cain."

 

~ Skimming through many Amish cookbooks checked out from our library

 

~  Thinking about how I should memorize this quote: " I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." - C.S. Lewis

 

~ Listening to this song and this song by The Piano Guys.

 

~ Drinking some hot lemon-honey water. :o) My favorite..

 

~ Reading my aunt's precious blog and my cousin's lovely blog.

~ Baking "Chewy Chocolate Chip Bars"

:~:Downton Abbey:~:

 

 

 



~ Downton Abbey is a superb television show! I would suggest it to absolutely anyone who wants to just sit down and enjoy a nice, fun-filled hour of drama while sipping on a small mug of tea (or for me... some nice, hot lemon-honey water). I gifted seasons 1&2 of this show to my mother for Christmas. We had never seen it before, but we had heard very highly of it from my cousin. About one week ago we decided to finally, after all the hustling and bustling had calmed down from the hectic Christmas season, to sit down together and watch it. The first episode was great until the, what we called, unexpected happened! This "unexpected" occurrence had us second guessing whether we should continue viewing the other episodes. After consulting my dear cousin, we were told nothing of the sort would again happen, and we, once again, sat down to view the next delightful and thrilling episode. Today, about a week later, we are on the last episode of the second season. We are watching the Christmas special. We could never stop watching it! We couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Each night we were scrambling about to finish whatever it was that needed to be finished, so we could watch, yet again, another exhilarating episode of excitement. It is definitely the *best* television show someone, like me, could ask for. :o)

 



::Past Days::

*Cinnamon Rolls*

Saturday Morning Cinnamon Rolls

 

 

Ingredients:

 

4 to 5 cups of Flour

2 tablespoons of Yeast

1 cup of Milk

3/4 cup of Water

1/2 cup of Oil

3 tablespoons of Honey

1 teaspoon of Salt

 

Instructions:

 

Mix 2 cups of flour with 2 tablespoons of yeast. Heat the water, oil, milk, honey, and salt until very warm. Pour into flour mixture and beat well. Start adding the rest of the flour until dough is soft. Knead briefly then let rest for 10 minutes. Roll dough out flat and brush on brown sugar/melted butter mixture. (About one stick of butter. Add brown sugar until a thick, gooey mixture.) Sprinkle cinnamon on top, roll dough and slice. Let rise for half an hour then bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until cooked to your liking.

 

Optional Frosting

~ The frosting isn't too bad, but I found they taste better plain (to me). ~

 

::Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls::

 

Ingredients:

 

1 stick (8 tbsp.) plus 1 tbsp. of butter, softened

4 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar

3 tbsp. of cream, or milk

1 1/2 tsp. of vanilla

 

Instructions:

 

1. Beat butter until smooth

2. Cream in sugar, by hand or electric mixer

3. When smooth, stir in cream or milk and vanilla, beating until creamy

4. Spread over warm Cinnamon Rolls

 

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

 

~ This is one of the precious, young cats that visits our backyard from day to day.

This adorable, cuddly cat was originally named Fishes (what I still call her), but my brother calls her Milkshake now. He cares for her the most, joyfully running outside at any glance of her. He even set a little box outside with a towel for her to feel *homey* in.