News from New Hampshire

HAPPY  NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! It seems odd that we go to bed on Dec. 31, 2007, and wake up on Jan. 1, 2008! It's kinda like a time machine, a friend told me. I am so sorry that I didn't write sooner, but I was so busy!!!! Do you know how to knit? Here's a pattern for a tiny purse-

1) Cast on 15 stitches.

2)Knit until about as long as desired (without the flap yet.....fold your work in half and decide if that's the length you want). Pin a safety pin or stitch marker where your last row that you just finished knitting ends.

3) Knit the flap til it's half the length you want the flap to be. Make a button hole by casting off the 8th stitch. Finish knitting rest of flap.

4) Cast off your work. Fold the body of purse in half (remember the stitch marker?) and sew edges together. Turn inside out ( so sewn stitches don't show).

5) Sew a little button on purse where it will meet the hole in flap. Your Done!

It snowed the last few days. Have any of you had snow yet??? My mom started making corn muffins from scratch, and it's good. The only problem is that you need a good recipe. Remember when I said that I was going to post a peppermint candy recipe? Here it is-

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
red food coloring

Instructions
Cook sugar, corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar to a very hard ball stage (use candy thermometer: 250 to 265 degrees F.). Remove from heat and add peppermint. Divide into two parts and add red coloring to one part and mix well. Pull pieces of each part to form ropes and twist red around the white to make candy canes.

Yield: 1 dozen

Hope you enjoy!! By the way, does anyone play piano? What course are you taking, or what teacher? Maybe I can try to teach myself piano with the books we have..... :)

Godly Girls, a magazine by a Godly girl

Hello! Have you heard of Godly Girls before? It's a really neat ministry run by Angela Masloske. Godly Girls is a magazine for girls aged from 9-any (what I mean by any is that any person above 9 can read it, you know, 15 yrs., 18 yrs., 25 yrs., 46 yrs.,.... you get my point :). Angela and I have been penpals for about 6 months now, and we love it!!! Not only penpals, but we love calling each other and dreaming about the day when we would get to meet. She lives in Illinois. The mini magazine has articles written by Christian girls, jokes, recipes, stories, a section call "Meet Me!" where readers can post their pictures and a lot about themselves, family and so on, and a "Editor's Section" where Angela tells about what's going on, special events, announcments and stuff like that. The subscription is only $12.00 for a whole year, and the magazine is bi-monthly. This would be a great gift for someone. I love it!!! Well, got to go. I'll post a recipe next time I get a chance to write. Oh, here's Angela's email address- masloske@gmail.com. Tell her that you heard about her from Elizabeth Khodabash, and you'll be fine. She'd love to give you more info. Bye!!

A Club for the Glory of God.....Growing in God's Grace

Hello, once again. It's raining outside, not much of outdoor weather. Did you ever have a club? I did. In New York, I invited 6 friends over twice a month. We held a meeting on each date set. We'd read the Bible, pray, talk a little and play the piano, then play in the yard with bikes,scooters,sticks, ropes, and whatever else was in the garage to play with. We loved it, and couldn't wait to have another meeting. After playing outside, or inside (with the table soccer, ping-pong, or a ball), it was time for, well, "lunner"? It was past LUnch time, but too early for diNNER. Thus, it was called lunner. After, another prayer, and the girls went home. The parents loved it too! Now that I have a few friends here in New Hampshire, I'm going to start it all over again. I'd love to give directions on how to start a club, as well as crafts. Just leave a comment and I'll get to you (I can only reach other bloggers, but if you want, reach me by my email address, stating why you contacted:). Must go, but have a purrrrrfect day!!! 

><>Hey, good to have you!! I've started writing a cookbook! Would you like to help? Please send your recipes to ekhodabash@yahoo.com to see your recipe printed in the book. Have you saved your seeds yet? I've saved my pumpkin seeds, tomato seeds, and am moving on to garlic,melon and lettuce seeds. I don't know how to save lettuce seeds, so I'll look on the computer. Would you like to post a way to save lettuce seeds? Thank you alot. God bless you. Have a happy day!!!! <><

Are Brothers and Sisters a Blessing or Chore?

I remember when I used to think that siblings were just a chore, and wished that I was the only child!! But now, it's different. I read and re-read the Mally family's book, which consists of Sarah, Stephen and Grace (plus parents :), helped write together. Boy, did it change what I thought! The book, by the way, is named Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends. After I read it, I prayed that God would help me to love and cherish my siblings instead of getting mad at them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sometimes it's hard, but keep trying, and keep praying!!! God answers prayer that He sees fit to. Make a list of why you think that your siblings ought to be screamed at, a target for your dolls and whatever you have in your hands!! Then go over it. I'm sure that you will see that none of it makes any sense! I know, he might be so immature that you're just disgusted. And yes, I know that she might not clean your room even though your mom told her to (and it's HER room too, so she SHOULD!!!). But think, God sent my sisters/brothers here for a reason. He put us together for a reason. I should try to be nice to them for His sake, if not my parents. Doesn't it make sense?? Think it over. God help you decide. He wants you to live for Him, not just to other strangers, but for your family also. Got to go, and have a nice day!!!

RECIPE of the MONTH

So, you've read the last entry and wondered when she's going to actually post the recipe she mentioned. Well, it's right now!! How many of you like candy? Most. How many like old-fashioned candy? Lots! Here's a "revised" version of the candy Laura Ingalls Wilder talks about in her book, _Little House on the Praire_. Maple candy!!! Then I also have the recipe for horehound candy, which I'll post later. The molasses candy Laura wrote about in the same book, well, we tried without a recipe and it came out.....GREAT!!! I don't know the exact amounts, but it was something like 2 cups of molasses with 1 cup of sugar, then we boiled it, dipped it onto some snow, and after ir became hard, we let it dry out. My siblings always ask for it. But we have to wait for some snow. Here's the recipe-                                              OLD FASHIONED MAPLE CANDY

• 2 cups pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• saucepan (non-stick works best)
• candy thermometer recommended

Instructions:

1. Cook syrup over very low heat until it begins to boil, stirring frequently.
2. Continue boil until it reaches 233°F on the candy thermometer.
3. Remove from heat and cool for aproximately 60-70 minutes, or until the temperature on the candy thermometer reads about 110°F
4. Add the vanilla extract and heat until smooth and fluffy.
5. Shape this mixture into small patties, or while still warm you can pour onto pans of clean snow as Laura did. If you have no snow, you can blend ice cubes until they are crushed, then place crushed cubes into a pan before pouring the maple candy. You can also use candy molds.
6. Maple candy must be stored in airtight containers to prevent the candy from drying out.

Also, I'll post a recipe for peppermint candy, which makes a great gift! Don't expect all candy recipes though!!!! :)

Rushing....and more Rushing

Nothing much is going on today. Tomorrow we're going on a field trip. And I have to rush this, because I have to finish homework. Even though we're going on a field trip, if it's wet and rainy (like it's "supposed" to be), we still have to bring our homework!! Oh well. Praying that it's a nice, clear, sunny day tomorrow. The school that we attend is a private Christian school, but they do allow some unsaved people to come in. That poses a little problem! But, thank goodness, there have been no arguments or anything like that so far. I hope that that keeps up! With the next entry, I'll also include a recipe, so keep you eyes open! I really don't know when I can post something, but I'll try to do it as soon as possible! Write later!

Old Fashioned? Weird Dresses, Skirts or Shirts? It's All About Modesty

Old fashioned.... That brings buggies,  bonnets, wash pans,and horses for going places all to mind. But, there are people who do follow "old-fashioned" ways, such as the Amish, Mennonite and others. Several times our family visited Penn., and found that the Amish living there were very kind, well meaning people. I know that some folks have complained about the Amish, saying that they are rude, telling their children stories about Christians, etc. But we find their way of living delightful, because we want to be old-fashioned. But that's not the point. I strayed from what I wanted to say! If you wear skirts and dresses, depending  on how modest it is, by and by people are going to point you out, saying things like "How old fashioned they are!" or "Do they even care about what people think of them?" The answer is, you shouldn't care! I started wearing skirts and dresses about 4 years ago, and believe me, tons of people made comments. My dad bought my sister and I modest swimwear, instead of those swimsuits at the mall. Even my relatives got mad and asked why I should be so "old fashioned". They calmed down a bit, but it started up again 3 months ago, as my dad and I felt the need for my sister and I to wear headcoverings, after searching God's Word. My grandmother told me several times to take it off. But I knew that dressing like this was for the glory of God, and I didn't care about what other people said. So please, if you are going to, or already have been, wear dresses, or such like, don't mind other people. Pray for help. That's what I did, and it worked!!

Dreaming....About Homemaking

Hello! It's a beautiful day, at least here in New Hampshire, and 4:14 P.M. Have you ever dreamt of growing up, getting married, having children, and just being a keeper at home? I know that I have. And still do. Just because I'm only 11 years old doesn't mean that I can't begin getting ready until that day. I can still keep busy learning and filling up my hope chest. A hope chest is so fun filling, and later, when you look back at how much time you spent on it, well, it'll be a treasured memory. Visit www.hopechestlegacy.com. It's so delightful! Cooking and sewing lessons take up most of my time after school. How about you? Are you teaching your girls to become Titus 2 woman? Are they ready to take up the position of the Proverb 31 woman? Think about it. www.futurechristianhomemakers.com will show you how and why. I must go. I'm so sorry that this is so short, but I'll write again later. God bless!