A Southern Belle

 Dear Readers, I have a pot of coffee brewing and the windows open to have fresh air in the house for when my husband gets home from work. The birds are beginning to return from their winter trip and it has been such a blessing to hear them praise the Lord throughout the day! I thought I would sit down for a few minuets to post the coffee cake recipe that I promised on the last post. SOUR CREAM COFFEE CAKE Ingredients: 3 C. Flour 1 C. Softened Butter 1 Tsp. Baking Powder 1 Tsp. Salt 1 C. Sour Cream 1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda 1 1/2 C. Sugar 3 Eggs 2 Tsp. Vanilla Sugar and cinnamon to sprinkle between layers. Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a tube pan. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream and baking soda. In a mixer, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. ( You can never have to much vanilla! ;)) Add flour in 3 additions, alternating with the sour cream mixtures in 2 additions, beginning and end...

 Dear Readers, Since moving to the city, I have greatly missed being able to plan my Spring garden and take care of my chickens. But I am learning to enjoy cooking, cleaning, and homemaking. I have been able to do some reading and researching on how a home was run in the 1940's and 1950's, and I was encouraged to begin to incorporate a few of the tips I found. I have a book, "Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Home keeping", coming in the mail and I am looking forward to learning as much as I can from it.  I have also decided to try to grow some herbs indoors, even though our little apartment doesn't get much sun. I have made sure to have flowers in the house to brighten the rooms up and I enjoy diffusing essential oils and having the windows open to refresh the air.  I have begun a new tradition to serve hot coffee with a dessert or snack in the afternoons or evening, using my fine china. I strive to do this especially when my husband is home. I belie...

 Dear Readers, I do believe this post is long overdue. My life has been a crazy roller coaster! Since I last posted, I have had a few adventures. The best one being that the Lord has blessed me with a loving and kind husband. Not to mention handsome! Christopher and I met almost 6 years ago through a mutual friend. We quickly become good friends and kept in frequent communication. In the spring on 2019, he and his brother came down for a short visit before he left for basic training in the U.S. Army. We wrote each other weekly, although at this time we were still just friends. My father and I were able to attend his graduation later the same year and it was then we both realized there could be something more. Christopher was sent to South Korea for a year. Much happened within that year! We become dating just two weeks after he left and were married by Double Proxy in July of 2020! The Lord truly put everything together before our eyes and brought complete peace to both our parents...

Dear Readers, I apologize for not posting more regularly. I have been quite busy this year, and posting has been set aside for far to long. To update you in the most recent doings of my life, I have been able to graduate from High School, by the grace of God, and am hoping to graduate from piano in the next month or so.  For quite some time, I have been hoping to begin a new chapter in my life and start a bit of farming. I believed that to farm you must have a fair amount of land and be located deep in the country. Boy, was I wrong! After much reading and researching, I was convinced that I could begin my dream of having a farm on our small acre. Although I won't be able to have to many animals, I believe having chickens will suppress the urge to get a cow.... for now. :) A few month ago I was able to talk my parents into allowing me to get chickens. I honestly didn't have any clue of how to go about purchasing and finding the best breed. But a few wonderful friends help...

Dear Readers, I am so happy that spring is finally here!!!!! I have been able to take some pictures of the new flowers and the new plants that are finally coming alive at our house in Belton! I truly LOVE Spring the best out of all the seasons, it brings hope to me! What is your favorite season of the year?? Why? "For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land" Song Of Solomon 2:11-12 "Spring flowers are in blossom all over. The whole world's a choir- and singing! Spring warblers are filling the forest with sweet arpeggios. Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed, and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms." Song of Solomon 2:12-13a  I am also starting my own herb garden this year! I have had so much fun watching my plants grow and I can't wait to use it in my food, and for medicine! Most...

Dear Readers, This past Friday at 5:10 Am, a very dear member of our family passed away unexpectedly. Although he wasn't our grandfather, we loved him and will miss him so much. My grandmother was taken to the hospital due to stress of it all but we thank God that she is stable and is at home. Though it is hard to suffer the loss of a loved one it brings to mind that "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord." May HE be glorified in our sorrow, exalted in our loss, and magnified in our grief. We have been shown that God gives the grace we need to endure everything He sends our way, and we have to trust Him in all our ways.  Please pray as my Grandmother is still grieving the loss of her husband, and for us as we help her and grieve as well. Your Friend, Haviland~

Dear Readers, Happy early Valentines!!!! I can't believe it's already February! Well, today I helped my dear sister Bethany get ready for her date tonight and I was so happy that I could dress her up! Today has been so busy and soo much fun! Aaron and I (more Aaron then me really) planned a little surprise for Bethany this morning and it was quite a success! He came by around 1:45 pm to bring some BEAUTIFUL roses, chocolate and Bethany's favorite drink, a Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks. She was shocked and so surprised she couldn't speak! Arn't those flowers just gorgeous?!?!?! Aaron did really well!!! After Bethany took a shower, I started on her hair and makeup..... she wore my light pink dress that I got for Christmas and I must say it looked great on her! After fixing her all up, we went outside and took some pictures before Aaron came to pick her up!  I had her get one of the roses that Aaron brought and I think it went really well with her outf...