Daddy

This is my daddy.....

6 mo's old.....

Cute....

as a.....

button!

I feel totally blessed to have these photo's to pass on to my children!

A Great Start...

It's early in the morning..

It's dark outside...

No one is up...

The house is cold...

You start a fire in the fireplace...

You make this apple pie oatmeal...

You sit on the big overstuffed couch.....

You curl up with your fleece blanket..

and furry friend(s)...

Your day is off to a great start! :)

Fall Garden

My fall garden still has some color, and is still producing!

"Woolly Mammoth Sunflowers " 

I have no idea where this came from.  It started growing in my garden, so I let grow not knowing what was going to come.  It is a cross between a pumpkin and a squash.

Asparagus

Birdhouse Gourds

Zinnias in "Smoothie Mix"

The bumblebees that made it all possible!

"Horse treats" ;)

Sweet Peas

Tomatoes are just starting to ripen

Nasturtiums 

Lot's of Kale to juice and use in soups!

Dill

Acelia planted an assortment of sunflowers.....

One of my favorite velvet noses!

Looking for her carrot.....

The Everbearing Strawberries are still bearing......

Zip and Honey waiting for their carrot treat!

Father and Daughter

~Father and Daughter~

While looking through several photo's with my cousin Ansley, and my mother, we came across this picture that I think all of us would agree is our favorite.

This is my Great Grandfather, Timothy John Carey (Husband to Nelly) with his only daughter 

Acelia Theresa Carey.

You want to know some neat facts about our family?  

My Great Grandmother and Grandfather had 4 boys and only one girl.

I had 3 boys and only one girl.

They named their only girl Acelia Theresa Carey.

We named our only girl Acelia Carey Harding.

My Great Grandmother was a stay at home wife and mother.

Her daughter was a stay at home wife and mother.

I am a stay at home wife and mother.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

(From Nelly's Book of Quotes and Poems)

A world of love may be expressed

In just a very simple way.

And so dear daughter from the heart,

I wish you worlds of love today.

~Nelly

~ Nelly ~

This is Nelly, my Great Grandmother (on the right) and her daughter, my Grandmother Acelia.

I have taken on a HUGE project this winter, reading, and typing over 50 letters that Nelly wrote to her daughter during the 50's and 60's, cropping old photos that date back into the 1700's, and putting all the information into one big book for our families.  She comes from a long line of devoted wives and mothers.  Women who believed it was their duty to be in the home working to provide a haven for their husbands and a secure, loving environment for their children. Though Nelly and her ancestors didn't do this perfectly, (none of us do) they did their best with what they had.

In the months ahead I'll be cropping pictures and typing letters and papers written by Nelly and her mother, Acelia Constantine Pitt, about motherhood, homemaking, and the duties of a wife. I'm getting everything ready to go into one big book for the family! 

Here is a poem that I found in a little book of Nelly's.  It was a small book that she used to jot down important poems, sayings, and newspaper clippings, that really meant something to her.

I'm not sure if she penned this herself or copied it, but I'm giving her credit for it till I can prove otherwise, based on the fact that she usually wrote the author of the little sayings she copied into her book.  I'd really like to give it a title, any ideas?

Is there aught in life that is better than this?

A gurgle, a smile, a coo, a kiss-

Soft arms that entwine, cheeks pressed against thine-

Innocent eyes that sparkle and shine-

A love that is sweet, deep, true, and pure-

If you own all this, you can never be poor-

Do you wish to be happy?

Then put to rest, or snuggle up tight and close to your breast-

 a baby!

Acelia Carey Hall's Whole Wheat Health Bread

My Grandmother Acelia was an incredible woman.  She was a homemaker, devoted wife, and mother.  I remember as a little girl, my brother and I would stay with her and Grandpa for the weekend, and we always had this bread toasted for breakfast with honey drizzled over the top.  I have a recipe box filled with all her favorite recipes, and I'm sharing this one with you today!  My kitchen is currently filled with the smell of these freshly baked loaves!!

Whole Wheat Health Bread

(Makes 3 loaves)

4 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

3-4 Cups white flour

4 tsp. salt

2 tbl. sugar

4 tbl yeast

2 1/2 Cups reconstituted dry milk

1/2 Cup butter

1/2 Cup molasses

1 1/2 Cup raisins

1 Cup chopped walnuts

Bring raisins to a boil in 1/2 Cup of water, set aside to cool.  In a large pot combine the milk, sugar, melted butter, salt, molasses, and heat to 120 - 130 degrees.  Add yeast and 2 cups of whole wheat flour, raisins with liquid and nuts.  (At this point I transferred to my Kitchen Aid to mix in the rest of the flours)  Add the remaining 2 cups of whole wheat flour, and enough white flour to make a soft dough consistency.  Knead for about 10 mins.  Place in a large greased bowl, make sure the top gets greased too.  Let rise in warm place for about one to 1 1/2 hours.  

Knead again and shape into 3 loaves and rise to top of pans.

Bake 375 for 30-40 mins.

Enjoy!