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Shepherds Hill Homestead » Homemaking

Knitted Flowers

Knitted Flowers

My knitting basket has been sitting idle far too long, so I decided to spend this rainy Labor Day creating some simple, knitted flowers. There are many types and styles out there and they can be used to embellish sweaters, winter-caps, bags and just about anything else! I did a quick search and found a basic pattern…then I made some adjustments! I never seem to be able to follow patterns as-written!         Happy … Read entire article »

Filed under: Heritage Skills, Knitting

Make A Quilt

Make A Quilt

  Log Cabin Wall Hanging Quilt Basics of Quilting One of my FAVORITE ways to spend an afternoon is to quilt! It is such a soothing, satisfying work.  Quilting has been around for centuries and was born from practical need. Truly making a quilting is just constructing a fabric sandwich.  You need a top (this is the part that is usually pieced in pretty designs), a middle of batting, and a bottom (a solid piece of fabric).  Once you … Read entire article »

Filed under: Heritage Skills, Homemaking, Plain Lifestyle, Quilting, Sewing

Holy Moments-A Christmas Story

   His name was William. If he spoke to you, you would know that he wasn’t like everyone else. You see, he lives in a nursing home because he can’t take care of himself. At first glance, he seems so out of place. He appears to be only in his fifties and gets around well enough. But his mental state is so that he wouldn’t make it alone. Our family met him one Christmas.            Angie has always encouraged the girls to spend time ministering to those who are not like others. Being somewhat of outcasts ourselves we tend to relate to those that society seems to forget. But this time it would be hard for me. I never could go to the nursing home easily. It always made me feel … Read entire article »

Filed under: Holidays and Celebration, Homemaking, Plain Lifestyle, Servants Of Christ

Handwashing Your Clothes

Recently I had a lady write and ask about handwashing clothes.  We do have a regular washing machine that we use but when it kicks the bucket we will not replace it and go exclusively to handwashing.  I have a scrub board that is glass, we purchased from Lehman’s and does very well.  We have had it for many years now.  The only hold back to doing our clothes by hand now is that we do not have a wringer and that is something that is a must.  When we do clothes it is nearly impossible to wring out all the water by hand – and takes far too long.  Otherwise, the process is simple so I will share that with you.  First, I fill my wash tub with hot water and dissolve … Read entire article »

Filed under: Homekeeping Recipes and Tips, Homemaking

Cleaning Recipes

Laundry soap 2 cups Bar Soap, Grated into fine flakes. (I used some of my homemade soap. You could use Fels-Naptha. Half of a bar.) 2 cups Borax (I use 20 Mule team Borax.) 2 cups Washing Soda (Not Baking Soda)(I use Arm&Hammer Super Washing Soda.) Available in the laundry aisle of most supermarkets. I put bar soap shavings in a bowl and added 1 quart of boiling water to melt it. Once melted I poured this into a bucket and added the borax and washing soda and stirred together to dissolve. Then I added 2 gallons of water. This makes a thick liquid. I give it a good stir before use each time. Use ¼ cup per load. Fabric softener -added to rinse water… 2 cups cold water 1 cup baking soda 1 cup vinegar 1- Place baking soda in LARGE bowl and pour vinegar over … Read entire article »

Filed under: Homekeeping Recipes and Tips

Washing Dishes

 Yippeee!!! Yahooo!!! It is time to wash the dishes!!!!  How exciting! Okay – yes, I know.  Washing dishes is not THAT exciting and certainly does not deserve that much hype, right?!  I hope that by the end of this article that you will have changed your mind. I pray that you will have a new found joy and excitement in this mundane task that never seems to be finished.  Let’s first look at how dishes need to be washed.  Over the 30 or so years that we have had gatherings in our home, I have been blessed to see many folks helping with dishes. It is almost a study in human nature to see the progression of sisters in the kitchen when a meal is done.  Some will immediately head for the sink … Read entire article »

Filed under: Homekeeping Recipes and Tips, Homemaking

Jesse Tree Order of Devotions for Christmas Observance

Jesse Tree Order of Devotions for Christmas Observance

   December 1              The Jesse Tree ScriptureReading:  Isaiah 11:1-10 Set up the Jesse Tree – A base with a trunk and limbs   December 2 The Creation ScriptureReading:  Genesis 1:1-2:3 Ornament – The Earth (a globe or sphere)   December 3 The Fall of Adam & Eve ScriptureReading:  Genesis 2:4-3:13 Ornament – Apple with a Serpent   December 4 The Flood ScriptureReading:  Genesis6:11-22;7:17-8:3; 9:8-17 Ornament Options: Rainbow, ark   December 5 God’s Promise ScriptureReading:  Genesis 21:1-7; 15:1-6 Ornament: Cradle   December 6 Offering of Isaac ScriptureReading:  Gen 22:1-19 Ornament:  Ram December 7 Jacob’s ladder ScriptureReading:  Genesis 27:41 thru 28:22 Ornament: Ladder   December 8 Joseph’s Favor ScriptureReading:  Genesis 42:1-45:15 Ornament: Coat of Many … Read entire article »

Filed under: Holidays and Celebration, Homemaking

Time to Pray

        This is a tough one.  I have met and talked with so many women who search for this with all their heart and yet they seem in the vast majority to fall short.  Precious women in the Body of Christ are feeling great guilt over this problem. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:17 My true belief is that if given huge blocks of time these same women would wear their knees out in deep intercession before the Father.  The answer:  Satan is the accuser of the brethren.  Christ did not come to condemn us but to redeem us from the curse of the law.  I don’t believe for one moment that our … Read entire article »

Filed under: Homemaking

Best Laid Plans

 Not too long ago we had big week here in our home.   The girls had decided that they wanted to switch rooms and redecorate each.  We had been planning this since early February and now the time had come.  I myself was experiencing a little discontent over our bathroom.  It had been 6 years since we had even thought of repainting or rewallpapering in there and spring fever was at a peak.  SOOO, being the eager beaver, I decided that while the girls were repainting and moving things around in their rooms that I would change the wallpaper in the bathroom and repaint the rest of the walls and the trim in there.   Doesn’t that sound like such a nice simple job? HA! DOUBLE HA!   We went to Lowe’s to get the girls paint … Read entire article »

Filed under: Homemaking

Making the Bed

This morning as I was waking – sort of in the twilight zone #-} – the Lord spoke to my heart about . . . making the bed.  I know, you are saying, “What???”.  But the Lord has mercy on my simple mind and speaks to me in simple, everyday things and this morning it was on making the bed.   When I was little I can remember my momma making our bed.  She would take everything off and start from the bottom.  She would smooth the fitted sheet and then she would lift the flat sheet way into the air until it floated down over the bed like a feather.  I loved that!  Then a blanket, then the bedspread and then the pillows would be folded into the head of the … Read entire article »

Filed under: Homemaking

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