New Project

This is my newest project! I am going to make a quilt!!!

I got the material from my granny back in October. Some of the pieces are from my mom and aunt's old dresses! The hardest part was matching all the material together. I will post pictures as I finish the patches.

This is the first patch that I made.

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Exercise Second and Third

Exercise Second

is for gaining agility, suppleness, quickness of eye, hand, and foot. Standing as far from the wall as possible, take a common rubber hand-ball and toss it against the wall, catching it as it rebounds, and again toss it against the wall. Vary this by allowing the ball to strike the floor, catching it on the rebound; then try keeping the ball in constant motion by first using one hand and then the other as a bat for returning the ball to the wall. This exercise can also be changed by striking the ball against the floor, and on its return bound again striking it,thus keeping it in motion. You will find that activity is necessary, and the work so quick that it will keep you on the jump all through the exercises.

Exercise Third

is with a broom-handle. Saw or cut off the broom and smooth down the sharp ends of the handle, and it will be ready for use. Stand erect, heels together, toes out, chin well back and straight, so as to throw out and expand the chest. Now grasp firmly each end of the broom stick and bring it up over the head;repeat this motion six or seven times; then change by carrying the broomstick over back of the head down across the back of the shoulders; then up above the head again, repeating this, and all other motions in your calisthenics, half a dozen times. Another exercise is holding the stick down in front of you with both hands and bringing it up over the head and down back of the shoulders without stopping.

The side motion is made by grasping the broomstick at each end, holding it down in front of you, and swinging it sideways thus bringing the right hand up when the left hand is down, and vice versa. Another way is to hold the stick by both ends above your head and swing it from one side to the other, which will cause the right arm to come in contact with the right side of the head, while the left arm is extended horizontally to the left. Next carry the stick back of and against the shoulders; then swing it from right to left, which gives another side movement. Vary all the movements in as many different ways as you can think of.

Fly with Christ!

Rachel  : )

Home Gymnasium

This was taken from The American Girls Handy Book (1887), Chapter XXXII. This post includes the introduction of this chapter plus the first exercise. I will also post the other nine exercise.

"Everyone must exercise to keep healthy and strong, for life is motion and activity. It is natural to be well and healthy, and to keep so we must exercise all our muscles, as well as our moral and intellectual faculties, or they will dwindle and wither. The arm of the Hindoo devotee, not being used, at length becomes completely paralyzed, and the fish in the Mammoth Cave having no use for eyes pass their life without them; so we find that use is the foundation of all things, otherwise they would cease to exist; then, girls, it lies within your power to become stronger and more graceful each day by regular and graduated bodily exercise, which will bring life and energy to every part of the system by causing the blood to circulate freely through all the body.

There are some simple methods of carrying this into effect in the most agreeable and salutary manner, but the exercises must be very light at first, and as you advance they must be increased a little each time, but always stop before you feel fatigued, for when the calisthenics cease to give pleasure it is doubtful if they are beneficial.

The best time for exercising is in the morning after having partaken of some light refreshments, though any time will do except directly after hearty meals. Try and have a regular time set apart each day for your physical culture. Commence by exercising five or ten minutes, then for a little longer period next time, and so on until you can exercise with ease for half an hour or longer. You will feel refreshed, invigorated, and better prepared for the duties and pleasures which await you. Your clothing must not in commode the free action of the body, and it is essential that it be comfortable. What is suitable for lawn tennis is also well adapted for the gymnasium.An ordinary bathing-dress answers the purpose very well, as it is made for exercise.

The Egyptian water-carrier, with the jug of water poised so prettily on her head, and her figure so straight and beautiful, has always challenged admiration; her carriage is dignified, erect, and graceful, something worth striving for, especially when we have the certainty of success if we will only be faithful and preserving. The peasantry of foreign countries who carry all their burdens balanced on their heads have have their reward in healthy, strong, and straight figures, even in old age they do not stoop. Witness the emigrants landing at Castle Garden who carry their possessions done up in huge bundles on their heads with the utmost ease; of this class, three generations-a grandmother, mother, and grown daughter-with baggage of the same weight on their heads, were lately seen at a New York ferry, each equally upright, strong, and vigorous.

A good straight back is an excellent thing; and when the head is properly carried and all the movements are buoyant and elastic, then we may walk as it was intended we should, every step bringing a glow to the cheek and a sparkle to the eye. It requires only a few minutes' regular daily exercise for any girl to attain a carriage equal to that of the Egyptian water-carrier, and the only apparatus needed for

Exercise First

is a roll of paper. Now stand with your heels together, toes out, and shoulders well back; then place on your head the roll of paper; if your position is not perfectly erect the roll will fall off; keep your chin straight and back against your neck, for it is the chin which determines the poise of the body. You cannot stand straight unless your chin is straight; Throw out your chin and your chin will stoop forward, have your chin straight and your back will be straight; bear this in mind in all your exercises. Now walk, keeping the roll balanced on your head. Practice this walking back and forth until you can do so without the paper rolling off; then try a tin cup full to the brim with water. Walk erect or the water will wash over, down on your head, and it will feel cold as it trickles through your hair; soon, however, you will be able to carry the cup of water with ease and no danger of spilling. But do not discontinue the practice on that account; try something else in its place, until you are able to carry anything you wish on your head with no fear of it falling. The exercise affords amusement, and at the same time you will be acquiring a beautiful, dignified, and graceful carriage."

Fly with Christ!

Rachel : )

Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone stayed safe and had a grand time last night. We didn't go anywhere due to sickness, but we tried to make the most of it by watching movies and eating chips and salsa all night.

Anyway...This past weekend I went to Hancock Fabrics to purchase some new material and notions. They have some great sales going on right now ($2 per yard for solid cotton!). So I decided to make a vintage dress! I didn't take any pictures during the process with this project unlike my other tutorials.

This was the first time I have ever made a dress for myself. It was also the first time I had ever made sleeves for a real sized project. Tell me what y'all think!

 This is the material and notions that I got on sale. I got this vintage pattern from my grandmother. : )  I don't know what I am going to do with the green material yet. I might just make another dress!

And here it is...

Eleanor had to try the dress on herself.

May God bless each and every one of you in this new year!

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

A Tragic Event...

I regret to inform my audience of this most tragic event. This afternoon, at 2:27 P.M., Gingy Gingerbreadman committed suicide off of his front porch and died. He and his wife Ginger were sitting on the front porch of their newly built house in Gingerville when the incident occurred. They were in the process of moving their house from their old address at Tableside Drive to their new address on Countertop Lane. We do not know what caused Gingy to take the leap onto the cold tile below. He died from a severe blow to the head along with broken ribs and both of his legs broken. The couple did not have any children. Please pray for the family and the now widowed Ginger Gingerbreadman.

Gingy and his wife Ginger sitting on the front porch of their new home shortly before the accident.

The tragic scene of the crime.

Rachel Scott
Dept. of Safety and Home Baking

Gingerbread House and Recipe!

Usually I decorate a gingerbread house each year before Christmas. You know those Wilton gingerbread house kits. This year we ran out of time before Christmas so I decided to do it after Christmas. And I also used homemade gingerbread pieces. They were so much fun to make! Here is the recipe:

Construction Gingerbread:
(This recipe makes a sturdier cookie used to make houses and other 3-D creations.)
5 cups bread flour
2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tbsp. ground cloves
1 tbsp. ground ginger
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 7 tbsp. margarine (I used butter)
3/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. whole milk

1. Stir flour, spices, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
2. Combine sugar, butter, corn syrup, and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter has completely melted and the mixture is the consistency of thick syrup.
3. Remove from the heat and stir into the center of the dry ingredients until smooth and free of lumps. The dough will be shiny and somewhat sticky.
4. Divide the dough into two portions, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill until firm enough to roll.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
6. Using one disk at a time, roll onto a lightly floured surface about 1/4 inch thick but no less than 1/8 inch. Use cookie cutters or templates to create the desired shapes.
7. Transfer to a cookie sheet and bake 10 to 12 minutes for small (2 1/2 to 3 inch) cookies and closer to 15 minutes for larger (5 to 6 inch) cookies. (my house pieces had to bake for almost 20 minutes) When done, they should be firm to the touch and well browned.
8. Cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheets before transferring to a cooling rack. Cool completely before using.

 Construction begins...

 Eleanor was helping.

 The finished house.

 After the construction was complete, it began to snow in Gingerville.

 How lovely...

 Gingy and Ginger with their new house.

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )