“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”
― Laura Ingalls Wilder
― Laura Ingalls Wilder
We have just been enjoying the sweet simple things of life around here, and thought it would be fun to share a few of them today - like this delicious strawberry, lemon curd cake Brittany made for Easter Sunday!
(You can find our recipe for lemon curd HERE.)
For this cake she used Gluten Free Palate's "EASY GLUTEN-FREE VANILLA CAKE" recipe, and added the zest and juice of one lemon to the batter.
For this cake she used Gluten Free Palate's "EASY GLUTEN-FREE VANILLA CAKE" recipe, and added the zest and juice of one lemon to the batter.
When frosting, she whisked some lemon curd into a vanilla buttercream frosting and spread it between the layers and on top.
Easy and yummy! 😋🍰🍋
What We're Reading
“The Lord cares for His own, even in little things."
"Do you mean nothing ever happens against your wishes and prayers?" asked Eden almost breathlessly.
"Oh, no, but I mean that when you leave it all to Him, He works it out marvelously. I don't mean it always comes the way you have planned it, or want it even, but that if it doesn't, you know it will work out in the end to be even better than you wanted, if you are patient and rest in Him.”
― Grace Livingston Hill, Bright Arrows
Grace Livingston Hill's books make for the perfect spring read.
A contemporary Christian author during her time, she wrote over a hundred books that spanned the first half of the 20th century. 📚
Her stories often feature a sweet romance and are very family-centric. She is truly an inspiring author and manages to reveal the beauty and loveliness in simple day-to-day tasks.
A contemporary Christian author during her time, she wrote over a hundred books that spanned the first half of the 20th century. 📚
Her stories often feature a sweet romance and are very family-centric. She is truly an inspiring author and manages to reveal the beauty and loveliness in simple day-to-day tasks.
I usually put her books down feeling refreshed and ready to undertake whatever project is at hand, whether that be cleaning, sewing, cooking, or just spending time with my family.🌸🧵🌿
I've listed a few of her works that are my personal favorites down below:
- Aunt Crete's Emancipation (A sweet, Cinderella-like story with no romance)
- Found Treasure
- Found Treasure
- The Substitute Guest (A Christmas story)
- The Honor Girl
- The Enchanted Barn
- A Daily Rate
- The Obsession of Victoria Gracen
- Partners (another Christmas story)
- More than Conqueror (A WW2 story)
- Story of a Whim
- The Finding of Jasper Holt (A Western)
- The Honor Girl
- The Enchanted Barn
- A Daily Rate
- The Obsession of Victoria Gracen
- Partners (another Christmas story)
- More than Conqueror (A WW2 story)
- Story of a Whim
- The Finding of Jasper Holt (A Western)
What We're Crafting
"I couldn't sew on a day like this. There's something in the air that gets in the blood and makes a sort of glory in my soul. My fingers would twitch and I'd sew a crooked seam. So it's ho for the park and the pines.”
― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne Of The Island
― Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne Of The Island
Unlike Anne dear, something in the spring air makes my fingers simply itch to sew and hear the soothing hum of the sewing machine.
I have completed quite a few sewing projects that I can't wait to share with you all in future posts!
What We're Watching
“All the radiance of April in Italy lay gathered together at her feet. The sun poured in on her. The sea lay asleep in it, hardly stirring. Across the bay the lovely mountains, exquisitely different in color, were asleep too in the light.
She stared. Such beauty; and she there to see it. Such beauty; and she alive to feel it. Her face was bathed in light.”
― Elizabeth von Arnim, The Enchanted April
One of our favorite spring movies is "Enchanted April" inspired by the book of the same title by Elizabeth von Arnim.
Two Englishwomen, determined to get away from their drab lives and inattentive husbands; one overbearing widow living in the past; and one bored socialite running from her memories, all decide to rent a magnificent villa for a month.
Personalities clash with the unlikely pairing, however, the serene countryside of the Italian Riviera holds a special magic that soon sparks friendships and makes them begin to second guess what they are trying to avoid. Perhaps they should open their hearts to the very things they are running from.
The scenery of this movie is simply breathtaking. Its gentle plot and beautiful resolution make it a joy to watch.
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(The Soul of the Rose (1908) by John William Waterhouse)
This lovely picture by Waterhouse always reminds me of Rose Arbuthnot from "Enchanted April".
Also, the album A Summer in Italy by Brian Crain is delightful to listen to, especially the song "Two Spirits Soar".
What We're Loving!
And of course the very best thing has been enjoying sweet puppy kisses and tight fuzzy hugs from Freddy Bear. He was an unexpected surprise last month, and he has already added so much joy to the simple day-to-day tasks!
You can watch a Vlog of Freddy Bear and his beloved chickens over on our brother Jonathan's YouTube Channel.
What are some sweet simple things that you have been enjoying this spring?
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