Random – of windowsills and breezy hills

Chasing Spring Blossoms

Published on March 31, 2026March 31, 2026 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

What better time to celebrate new life than Easter? The power in Jesus’ resurrection is proof He’s living and real! No other religion could do the miracle of raising the dead to life and then living forever! Every spring, new life unfolds all around us, little reminders of His resurrection!

I had quite a number of new subscribers since my last post. In regards to that, I belatedly updated a couple things on my About page. One of which was a new link to the book of my cancer story. My apologies to those who may have clicked and saw it was outdated. Welcome, and thank you for being here! It’s my prayer that you will find content that encourages and blesses your life.

Ahhh Springtime! It thrills my heart how the sun waits to say goodnight for a couple hours longer, begging us to stay outside. Chirpy birds, greening grass and budding trees, who could say there is no God?!

Let’s chat about our kitchen tables. Obviously it’s a place for nourishing meals and interaction with families and friends. But aside from meals, what does our table look like? A flat, central surface will attract clutter sure as pies attract flies. And it’s ok. We need a place to put things. But who enjoys a constant disarray, where it needs cleared before every meal? If you don’t know where to start cleaning up, just clear the table. A clean kitchen table with a pretty centerpiece can give you courage when the rest of your house is crumbling. Daily resetting/clearing this surface will help combat the piles that (almost) magically appear.

I had fun playing around with a variety of centerpieces and shooting photos, to hopefully give you some inspiration. I know how fun it is to see other’s ideas, so feel free to send me your own inspirations! There’s countless options and ideas one could use for a nod to the season. With Easter coming up this weekend, why not celebrate with a beautiful bouquet for your table? Here are a few ideas:

Obviously any spring blooms are a win! Daffodils, tulips or lilies all speak Spring/ Easter. But the arrangement of colors and type of vase or vessel you put them in can make a huge difference in the appearance. Take a look at these centerpieces.

A glass vase or jar is classic, but I’ve learned, if you avoid clear ones, you won’t see the yucky looking water that happens after a couple days. Using a watering can as a vase lends to spring, though I will say it wasn’t exactly my style. I think a cuter watering can would make a difference, but this is what I use for watering my houseplants. If vintage tea cups are your style, that would make a cute vase as well, paired with a small stack of old books. Adding candles always adds coziness, but I don’t use them as much in spring or summer.

Scattering a variety of mini vases with singular blooms down the center of the table gives a unique twist. I’ll admit, I didn’t like my try at this, but it gives you the idea. I liked the mini vases on the wooden tray better. I loved the pottery with baby’s breath and white bird. It’s neutral, easy on the eyes and gives peaceful vibes. The pottery with tulips also struck me. Mini fresh plants grouped on a wooden cutting board or tray is also pretty, though it nods more to summer, in my opinion. Adding in small birds or real looking bird eggs in a nest is also cute! I stay away from bunnies and colored eggs because it has nothing to do with the true meaning of Easter.

A variety of table cloths or runners totally change things up. I don’t use tablecloths anymore except for company. Its cozy, but it feels a mite stuffy for me. The plaid runner is the only one I have, which I use occasionally. But I think that’s why I didn’t like a couple of the centerpieces because the runner didn’t jibe and looked too busy. An earth toned runner might look better with my brown vases.

This option here was my favorite which I kept on the table.

I had loaned out some vases for an event last week, and my friend graciously said I could keep the flowers that were in them. So that’s what I used in these pictures.

We are probably behind many of you in our growing season and don’t have any blooms yet. We moved from southern Indiana to Nebraska 8 years ago. Every spring I think longingly of the large patch of daffodils we left behind at our place there. They grew along the field, offspring of an old homestead. I could pick to my heart’s content, scattering bouquets through the house. Here’s a picture of Josie and me in that patch.

Shop your house, for trays, baskets, pitchers, pottery, or wooden bowls or cutting boards. (yes your house. You don’t need to go visit the store.) You can create a fresh look by pulling something out that you hadn’t used in a long while. A bowl with fresh lemons or red apples looks cheerful. Greenery and sprigs or apple/cherry blossoms stuck in pottery is lovely! I still remember one spring I was so ‘hungry’ for freshness in my house, I cut a bunch of greening sprigs along the edge of the woods and stuck it in jars, with decorative rocks in the bottom. When my husband came home, he laughed and says ”that’s weeds!” Weeds or not, it was pretty to me!

If you like keeping things like salt and pepper and napkins on the table, consider corralling all those little items in one large tray or basket, along with your pretty centerpiece. It helps tone it down to look like one item instead of 5 little things that tend to clutter.

A resurrection garden would also be a perfect Easter centerpiece. It’s something I’ve wanted to do with my children but have never yet managed it. Every year we make these super simple resurrection rolls which they always love.

And now for a fun springish kind of recipe! This Taco dip is very light and perfect for a Sunday night supper or maybe an outdoor party. It requires some prepping of ingredients which can be done ahead of time. It doesn’t take long to assemble and can be refrigerated for a couple hours. You can also add a layer of canned beans such as chili, black or pinto, for more protein.

We really like the Better Goods brand of chips, particularly the guacamole flavored ones. They’re lightly fried in avocado oil and have cleaner ingredients. Available at Walmart.

As homemakers, we get the privilege of decorating our homes and creating spaces to our likening. (And if you don’t enjoy home decor, its ok! It doesn’t mean your not a good homemaker. Please don’t think I’m trying to tell you to get your act together and pretty up your house.) Much more important than any decor is the ability we have to set the atmosphere in our homes, for peace or tension. We’ve probably all heard the convicting statement “if Momma ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy!” Some days we can barely keep our own boat afloat. Any flailing of youngsters or husbands in the wrong direction flip us over in turbulent waters of hormones. Often, motherhood doesn’t look like photos in parenting magazines. It’s more like running a marathon, exhausted and wondering how we can keep going one more day. And that’s exactly how God teaches us dependence on Him. We can’t keep going without Him to give us strength for one more step! And how grateful I am for God’s mercy and unending love, that’s not based on our performance level. When our children crunch on our last nerve and we messed up again! We ask forgiveness and trust God for better tomorrows.

Love your family! Create moments to celebrate Easter and new life this season!

Revival Survival

Published on March 6, 2026March 6, 2026 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

Our church typically has a week of revival meetings in March, which is happening next week Lord willing.

How can we as moms simplify for a more enjoyable week? Don’t we all know how hectic it can be?! Especially if you have little tykes and school children. And when we get frustrated, the whole family gets disorderd moods. I certainly don’t have this down pat. The week still wears me out from the aspect of going away and getting to bed later every night. But here’s some practical tips for revival survival.

● Stay Home

Not from church, but through the day. Don’t go away more than absolutely necessary. Avoid appointments or other obligations this week if at all possible. If you really need groceries, and don’t already do this, consider doing pick-up. (We’ve done this on a regular basis now for a few years. It saves multitudes of time and energy for this often weary mother.)

Staying home gives more time for keeping the house tidy, your routines in place, naps on schedule, and focusing on preparation for the evening.

● Prepare Simple Suppers

Either cook extra the week before and tuck in the freezer or plan very easy meals that require minimal prep and clean-up. Or plan crockpot meals if that’s your style. Along with this, I’m planning to use paper plates because an offspring of ours capsized on the door of the dishwasher and ruined it the other day. You’re not wasteful if you use paper products even if your dishwasher works. You’re being efficient by simplifying for the necessary Bread of Life.

● Simplify Breakfast And Lunches

This might not apply to you, but when there’s school involved the morning after the night before, its super helpful to have quick breakfasts without much mess! I make it a point to keep at least 2 or 3 breakfast options in the freezer. This school year I have been doing this on a regular basis. This is huge for cutting down on stress for me. We generally have the same thing each week on the designated day. And I definitely want easy options when there’s a busy week!

As for lunches, I’m planning to bake a pizza early in the week for easy packing. Purchase pizza pockets if you’d rather. Or pot pies. Or make wraps. Just be prepared by having a little stash to pull out for simple lunches. Putting forethought into action is key to eliminating frazzled mornings.

● Do The Basics

This is not the week to undergo spring cleaning, major outside work, sewing projects or decluttering closets. I don’t plan anything other than the basics of cooking, laundry and cleaning. If I find time to do a little extra here or there, that’s fine. But it’s perfectly fine to do nothing else except care for your family and yourself! Take the extra time to sip your tea and relax instead of rushing on to another project. Take a nap if you can. Sit and do nothing for 15 minutes. No phone or magazine browsing. No reading. This might sound scary but its an awesome habit to cultivate on a regular basis. Productivity is not our identity. Not to speak of how much more rested our minds and bodies feel when we do this. (A work in progress over here!)

● Pack Your Diaper Bag

Every morning, check your bag and restock and prepare it for the evening. This is one less thing to do during that time crunch before rushing out the door. It won’t hurt your purse’s feelings to sit neglected for hours until the service.

● Prepare Clothes And Shoes

Especially if you have a row of preschoolers, bathe them in the afternoon before naps. And they really don’t need a bath everyday. Unless they’re a heavy spitter sort of baby or have been in the mud all afternoon. Have their clothes set out or hung aside in the closet. This makes it easier not only for you, but also when Dad or an older sibling is dressing them. And a side note, I may be old fashioned here, but don’t hesitate to hang up and re-wear clothes, for littles or yourself. If they’re not visibly dirty or smelly of course. I mean, we shower, use deodorant, sit in pews in regulated air for an hour and a half. Does every garment really need washed?

● Prepare Yourself Early

I find it helpful to shower late afternoon as well as do my hair. Having myself basically ready well before supper is a huge help. After dishes, it doesn’t take long to slip in my Sunday dress and covering. This sure beats blasting through the shower 15 minutes before its time to leave.

● Children’s Chores

Have the children do their chores as early as possible, to avoid adding to last minute rush. Also, have them wash up lunchbox and supper prep dishes, before supper. This makes clean up afterwards a breeze.

● Give Yourself Margin

A big key to eliminate a stressful week is to give yourself lots of margin. Keep your days relaxed and the unexpected won’t be as quick to trigger high blood pressure episodes.

Aim to have everyone ready to leave 10 minutes prior to departure time. Again, this gives margin for the unexpected. If there’s no unexpected, sit in your chair and congratulate yourself. Honestly, sitting for even 5 minutes before heading to church really does help achieve that calm atmosphere.

● Hosting The Preacher

Typically we have a sign up sheet to have the speaker over for a meal. This takes considerable effort for moms to juggle along with the rest of our responsibilities, but it’s a blessing to share physical food with the one who studies and prepares spiritual food for us every evening. Again- keep it simple! Prepare food the day before hosting to alleviate last minute frazzles. There’s enough to do with adding the finishing touches to the meal. Having the main dishes ready to slide in the oven long before necessary, majorly cuts down on stress. Your fridge will not be offended for hosting a casserole dish or two for an extra 24 hours. Plus, you have time to wash up cooking dishes without being in a tizzy.

My old faithful menu for preachers is taco salad. I think every one of them has always commented how good it was and how nice to have a lighter meal, after all the big meals they are typically served. Although there’s nothing wrong with serving the preacher a hearty meal. Just don’t stress it.

Keeping the house relatively tidy and giving the bathroom a quick ‘wipe swipe’, is likely enough. This is where the beauty of regular cleaning comes in. When you don’t let it get completely awful, you can skimp on the busy days, allowing more time for food prep, unexpected interruptions or other necessities the day of hosting.

● Prepare Your Heart

This should be at the top of the list, but because I was on the practical side of things, it’s listed here. We can’t expect to race through the day, pack our brains to the brim with constant activity, spin through the shower, roar off to church and expect to get revived. More than likely we’ll be nodding to sleep instead of the message. I realize with little ones, our days are still often full and noisy. I’m not talking about that. But be intentional to not plan anything else, so you can find quiet moments. Spend time praying for the speaker, the audience and especially your own heart. Ask God to show you whatever you need. Speaking to myself here. Sit in silence and muse over the previous night’s message. God speaks in a still small voice that we’re likely to miss if we don’t quiet our minds and hearts.

● Give Yourself Grace

These tips are just suggestions. My intention is not to make anyone feel guilty or inadequate for not doing them. You might run on the fly better than I. Things come up or are on the agenda that are unavoidable. And if you’re not able to make it to church on time, give yourself grace there too. God understands. Accidents happen. It’s when it becomes habitual is where the true problem lies.

And incase you wonder, my taco salad is nothing famous. Simply fix taco meat, (I add beans to it) and prep all the fixings. Shredded lettuce, diced or cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, corn chips or crushed tortilla chips and homemade French dressing. Have the meat warm. Just before sitting down to eat, I mix everything in a large bowl and drizzle with dressing. Toss to combine and serve immediately. This pairs well with a side of biscuits and jam and sweet tea. And yes, I’m partial to Southern vibes!

What are your tips to simplify during a week of meetings? I’d love to know.

Brushstrokes Of February

Published on February 18, 2026February 18, 2026 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

Over the years I’ve struggled with depression. Overall, I’m much better than a couple years ago, but it still crops up in late winter or when I battle insomnia, physical issues or pain. I had all this going on days before leaving for our anticipated Florida vacation. (Yes, I know, that alone should have boosted my spirits, and I was grateful, but its not like it cures a brain in despair when it sets in.) Thanks to God, and 3 chiropractor treatments in about that many days, I felt well by the time we left. Jerald too was dealing with various issues in health and business. Not being strong mentally, I can barely keep my head above drowning when my sanguine husband gets down. We just had alot going on that felt like adversity. When my brain is weak, it fogs my vision with a pitifully bleak lens. While in Florida, I aspired to write a poem, (albeit, rather elementary) of the two extremes of colors I saw.

God’s Canvas

My waking thoughts focused on pain,

Gloomy doubts hounded my brain.

The murky depths sent my spirit sagging-

No joy to be found with morbid thoughts nagging.

There was abundance of sighing

And a boat load of crying.

With sundry needs beneath my head,

Tormenting fear imagines me dead.

Desperate pleas for health and healing-

“God, please remove these fears that I’m feeling.”

The only colors that February day

Were varied shades of brown and grey.

One week later- how could it be?!

The rainbow of colors God showered on me?!

Brilliant red berries and geranium flowers

The green of the palms in stately towers

In vast expanse the deep blue lies

Of ocean water and clearest skies

Hibiscus and sunshine with soothing rays

Yellow brings cheer these February days

Orange in the citrus and sun in the west

With flying colors, God’s paints are the best!

We were able to suprise my Mom who was also in Florida for a few weeks. That was such a highlight for me! Our time there was an absolute balm for my soul. It was amazing how God worked out the details about the trip and provided that we could even go. Such a privilege and gift from Him for sure. While I realize we can not measure God’s love based on His gifts to us, this felt like a huge God hug!

What a privilege to be with my dear Mother and aunts. Mom is in the middle here with her two sisters, Rosa Yoder and Sarah Gingerich.We celebrated mom’s 79th birthday while in FL with her. Rosa and Sarah are both in their 80s.

We had balmy weather, but failed to be prepared for the evening chill that moves in as the sun lowers. It was much too cold to be barefooted and jacketless! A beach photo with the baby’s tongue sticking out, nonetheless.

Less Laundry, Less Loathing

Published on January 24, 2026January 24, 2026 by Violet Rhodes6 Comments

Has anyone found dreams fulfilled beneath loads of smelly garments? Or, how many of us have dreamed of life without laundry? Or maybe you love it? I personally loathe it, aside from the fact I’m grateful for clothes to wear. Laundry never ends; it only takes naps.

Before my new system a few months ago, there was always this cloud of dread on wash day mornings. Gather up towels and rags, lug hampers to the laundry and then spend 10-15 minutes sorting, spraying/scrubbing stains and finally getting the first load into the washer. After that was accomplished, it felt like I could start my day. If I don’t get a load in until 9 or 10 A.M, it feels lousy. But if I can have a load going while I’m gone driving school children and have it ready for the dryer or hanging out as soon as I’m back home, it feels like efficiency.

I’m still not in love with laundry, but the dread has lifted slighly since I switched up my system. We purchased a three bin, rolling laundry hamper. After showers, everyone throws their clothes into the correct bins and woohoo- sorting is done!

For a long time I didn’t purchase a divided hamper because I didn’t feel we had space. I determine to use a minimalistic approach before purchasing items. Figure out where I’ll put the item or exactly what I’m going to do with it before it’s in my home. I thought long and hard over where we could set it for entire household use. None of our bathrooms are large enough and the laundry room itself is narrow.

The children’s bedrooms are downstairs but they prefer to use the main floor bathroom. So their clothes ended up in Macie’s hamper in her room, which is right next door. We discussed and measured and decided we can make room for the new hamper in her room. It has been working beautifully!

I marked the bins so everyone can see which bin is for what.

This parks neatly in the laundry, while still giving me room to walk past changing out loads. And no, the sweet baby face is not included with the hamper.

So here’s the laundry scoop. With the new system, the number one thing I love is, the clothes are pre-sorted! This is huge since that always was the biggest hurtle for me. There’s still spots to spray at times, but I try to do that as soon as the clothes are removed. This also gives time to soak it in Luminate water if need be. Then it’s ready to throw in the correct load the next wash day. Also, I still need to gather towels and rags from the bathrooms and kitchen but that doesn’t bother me like sorting did.

Secondly, I love how this hamper keeps clothes nicely contained– no more stumbling over unsightly Mt. Everests on the floor!

The third great thing is, since I combine more clothes, I have less loads! Win win! Typically I have 3 loads each wash day.

Yes, I confess I throw towels and dish rags in with the light colored load. The dark towels I throw in with the underwear/wash cloth load. And, (brace yourself,) I wash all darks together- jeans, Sunday pants and the whole works. But please don’t tell anyone. I cringe to do that. Occasionally if there’s a bunch of jeans I’ll make a separate pile and feel like a virtuous woman. But so far, nobody has turned me in for not washing the jeans separately, so I plan to continue. But let me hasten to assure you, hubby has an office job which means his jeans are not grimy and greasy. Neither are Reece’s school pants terribly dirty.

Please don’t pass out over this, but I don’t sort pockets. Jerald has been excellent in removing items from pockets ever since I married him. There’s been few accidents. Reece is super possessive of his 3 pockets knives and wouldn’t dream of leaving them in his pants. Occasionally there’s been a few rocks or wrappers but very rare. I’m pleased, because in my opinion, digging in crummy, sweaty pockets plays no part in a peaceful morning routine.

Another thing I changed was washing 3 times a week- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This is a paradox because, no, I don’t like doing laundry, but by washing more often there’s less overwhelming mountains in a day. You may prefer washing a load everyday and never end up with mountains. But I knew that method is not for me, because it feels like a bother to constantly be tending a load. It’s an exuberant feeling to wake on non-wash days, knowing I can enjoy a quieter morning and do more appealing tasks than handling dirty clothes. Although, really, when are we ever done with laundry?? Not till the day we die!

The fourth wonderful thing about this divided hamper is wheels!! Jerald was very good at carrying out the heavy hamper from our closet. But still, there was times I did. Some days I was desperate enough I threw a towel on the floor, set the hamper on it and scooted it over the tile. Heavy hampers are a nuisance. I have a bad hernia on my belly and lifting heavy is just not cool when you got a hernia.

What is cool is these wheels!! The children still have to take turns pushing the cart to the laundry room, it’s that exciting. And me, when the last load is in? I whip that cart back in it’s place feeling like a professional worker of sorts. Did you know we can be professional homemakers?! Wheels. Get yourself a divided laundry hamper with wheels! My sympathy if your laundry room is on a different level of the house.

A great addition to your laundry system would be using non-toxic and environmental friendly laundry soap such as Tahor. We originally began Tahor in 2024 and due to the increase in sales and not having the time for it with our young family, we sold the business last year. Mckenzie Nisly, who lives locally, does a great job stirring up soap and managing the business! Try it out if you haven’t yet!

Here’s a couple pictures of our laundry this past summer when we repainted it and installed a few cabinets.

And After! My laundry room is narrow but I’m grateful to have it on the main floor! Also, keep the space tidy and it’s not as depressing to work in it.

Tell me, how do you manage laundry?

The Croup Group

Published on December 31, 2025December 31, 2025 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

Our family doesn’t often get super sick. Last week, we got hit very suddenly. Jerald and I only had a touch of it; it seems to settle in children quicker. I wanted to share our experiences and remedies in hopes of helping others! Especially with babies, croup is nothing to mess with and I highly recommend keeping your shelf stocked for sudden sicknesses, especially coughs and croup. I’m also posting some fever information that may be helpful for young mothers.

Christmas vacation was here at last! Monday morning, I roared off with spinning tires, for an appointment in Omaha. With Jerald off work, he was home with the children. I started laundry, and between him and the children, they had it mostly finished till I got back. We started packing, and prepping the Yukon for our planned travels. I felt scatter brained all day, and the back of my mind was weighed down with the fear of sick children.

By Tuesday, Josie kept up a steady volley of coughs. Reece did a ton of sneezing. Poor Macie’s voice sounded raspy. Jerald and I both felt a little something in our throats- surely just frogs…?? I mean, we were leaving early on Christmas eve, weren’t we?! We continued dosing out vitamin C, Respaid, Juice Plus, garlic and OnGuard softgels.

I ambled around the house doing more packing. That afternoon I loafed on my recliner feeling depressed. Packing for trips is one of my “worst ever jobs.” And how would I ever cope with this batch of half sick youngsters? Not to speak of the boat loads of herbals and immune boosters to drag along.

By bedtime it was evident this Croup Group wasn’t going anywhere. A relief, but disappointment at the same time. I relaxed about packing, but had to kick into high gear by Christmas eve nursing my sick children. We were already slathering them up with garlic salve besides having them drink red raspberry tea, grape juice, and onion juice. Even my sweet baby happily downed a mixture of all of the above.

Still, nobody was getting better. Reece felt warm Tuesday evening and was up once that night but wasn’t anything to worry about otherwise. He never got very sick, besides hacking around and spitting out junk like we all did. He pretty much kept up his dancing and bouncing around the house, looking for availabilities to play games with him.

By Wednesday afternoon Josie lay conked out on the couch, getting warm with fever. I was mostly set on cruise, running to and fro, liberally greasing everyone with garlic salve and an essential oil blend for croup. Dishing out potions, whisking up warm lemon juice and honey for croaky throats, reminders to “drink your tea, drink your juice, here, drink some broth” “Have you been drinking water?!”

Let me tell ya, it keeps a Mama hopping to get this done. With it being Christmas vacation, my good man was at home helping me, but even then I was on the run more hours than not. And especially with a baby, I definitely needed extra hands.

I was loathe to pull out the onions, but I couldn’t go by the want to or not. I wasn’t waiting any longer. I chopped up a whole mess of those strong smelling things, fried them lightly with a drizzle of oil and salt and made cloth poultices for their chests. We spooned onions in plastic sandwich or ziploc sort of bags and slipped that over their feet, with a sock overtop to keep in place. It took two of us to get Macie’s onion poultices on and her prepped for bed. Sometimes even to get the herbs in her mouth. When she was grouchy or mad she’d pinch her lips shut.

This was our Christmas eve. The pungent aroma of onions and garlic permeated the house. Not exactly festive.

Old t-shirts are perfect for poultices. I sewed crude little pouches, letting enough of an opening to spoon in onions, then folded it over and fastened it with a safety pin. For Macie’s chest, we cut a pamper in half and laid it on top of the poultice, against her onesie, and secured it all with safety pins. Change out the onions about twice a day and for sure put fresh ones on before bedtime. It took a few days, but it does loosen croup!! We went through almost 3 bags of onions in about that many days. We also set onion halves around the house to help absorb germs/sickness. Please consider the humble onion as a best friend in sickness! Hoot all you want- I’ll take onions and garlic and all manner of herbs over a hospital stay any day!

I was worried about my girls that night. Thankfully Macie had no fever but I’ve heard so many scary RSV stories, I doubted myself and my home remedy capabilities. Thankfully, Josie’s fever never exceeded about 103. I have a tincture called Temp Assure that I give, then soak a rag with apple cider vinegar and lay that on her forehead. Soaking socks in vinegar and putting on their feet is another option, but her feet were full of onions. Sometimes I’ll rub diluted peppermint oil or an oil blend along their spine too. We beseeched the Lord much on their behalf. About midnight I checked her fever and it had come down, thank God! I always tell myself a fever is good for their body and it’s ok! Although I still get a little nervous and especially with a young baby, its important to seek medical attention. (More information on that further down) But I do not give Tylenol or anything like that to bring it down, unless it would be super high. I only use it as a last resort. It really is good for their bodies to fight a fever! It boost their immune system! Keep them lightly dressed, rub with oils, use vinegar soaked rags, give immune boosters, or try a lukewarm bath. Always, always push liquids! With fever, hydration is super important! Make them drink anything they will drink. Suck popsicles or crushed ice. If breastfeeding, feed as often as possible.

One more thing to try for reducing fever is whipping an egg white up with a bit sugar and vanilla (to make it palatable) and have them drink as much as they can. This is an old fashioned remedy that worked for me as a little girl. I keep this as a last resort since swigging down plain, raw eggs is rather gaggy.

The following information on fever is from a knowledgeable source and not original with me.

Notes on fever: Any fever in a baby under 3 months, should be seen by a doctor. Fever of 102 or more in a baby 3-6 months should be seen by a doctor. Any high fever that does not respond to treatment should be seen by a doctor. A fever over 107 degrees can cause brain damage. And here’s a couple more informative charts.

Any symptoms in the yellow or red charts should be seen by a doctor.

I wished so bad I had Nature Sunshine Seasonal Allergy (formerly ALJ) on hand! That is full of great herbs that are safe for infants even much younger than Macie at 10 months. But I did have Resp-Aid, which has many of the same ingredients, as well as Horehound Blend, which is another kid safe tincture with similar herbs. The bottle says not younger than 1 year but Macie was close enough and I certainly wasn’t risking croup elevating to RSV or pneumonia! I gave it cautiously at first then increased it in the next couple days.

These ingredients in Horehound Blend are, astragalus root, horehound herb, orange peel, mullein leaf, sage leaf, oregon grape root and ginger root. In a base of glycerin.

This is the tincture I use for fever and earache. I also make a roller bottle blend of oils to rub around the outside of the ear. (Tea tree, basil and lavender oils diluted with a carrier oil)

I also wished so much for straight Lobelia, to rub on her chest. I’ve heard that works amazing for croup. I ordered these items but of course, by the time they arrive, we won’t need them. I always try to keep tinctures and things on hand so we’re prepared for sickness. And I thought I was prepared, but I am going to be better prepared next time! Or maybe some other croupy baby will need them, and I can help out with having it on hand. If you live near me, please holler if you need croup herbs immediately!

This is what I want to impress on your minds; if you want to treat colds, earache, croup or whatever, YOU MUST BE EARLY AND CONSISTENT!! And by consistent I mean giving some kind of immune booster every hour or more. You can switch out with whatever ones you have on hand or prefer. Elderberry, Children’s cold and flu, Resp-Aid, Horehound Blend, Seasonal Allergy, Herbal cough syrup, Silver, Vitamin C etc. JUST BE CONSISTENT! Consistency wins the battle (usually). I’m not saying don’t go to the doctor. Use your own judgment and ask wisdom from the Lord. But you can’t expect natural herbal remedies to be compared to pharmaceutical meds to be taken once or twice a day and see results.

Also, besides onion poultices, rub chests and feet with salve often! You can switch off between garlic and Pneumonia salve or Lungah Fevah Shmeah. I only had the garlic. I know some people like Unkers and I hate to admit it, we finally got some for added tactics, but I do not like it! It may work, but I am not keen on rubbing oil/gas on my little people!! Yes, Petroleum is oil so, like gas, in other words. 🤯 Some pneumonia salves are made with olive oil or lard, and some with Vaseline. And since Vaseline is petroleum based, I’d recommend checking ingredients.

I didn’t have the chest rub on hand when we needed it, but I ordered it from Ann’s Naturals when I was restocking my supplies. It is a much healthier alternative to Unkers.

Give vitamin C often! Whole food vitamin C is best. You really won’t overdue it. (If they get diarrhea you will know) We simply gave lots of Juice Plus since we already have that on hand and take regularly. Pure Synergy is a trusted brand of whole food vitamin C that I’ve heard lots of good things about, although I’ve never used any. To get extra vitamin C into Macie, I poured a bit grape juice into a tiny bottle and opened up a capsule of Juice Plus berry blend. She guzzled this right down. I tried to do this two or three times a day. Vitamin C helps thin mucous, making it easier to get out.

I’m going to include the RSV protocol for any one who would be interested. It’s only pictures out of a Keeper’s At Home magazine so it’s not great quality. But if it can save some worried Mama and her baby from a hospital visit, I am thrilled to share it!

I haven’t ever used the Oregon grape root this protocol suggests, but that is one of the herbs in the Horehound Blend that I use.

Here is a list of recommendations to have on hand especially for croup or any colds:

Whole Food Vitamin C

Horehound Blend

Resp-Aid, or

Nature’s Sunshine Seasonal Allergy (ALJ)

Nature’s Sunshine VSC

Herbal Cough syrup

Garlic salve, Chest rub, or Pneumonia salve

Lobelia this is an herb to be used topically for croup. It is in some tinctures but what I’m talking about is for topical. You can put it in a roller bottle for easy application.

Essential Oil Croup Blend – In a 10 ml roller bottle, put 10 drops each of these oils. Breathe, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon. Dilute with carrier oil.

As far as the essential oils I use, I currently have some from Doterra but have mostly switched over to Revive. Revive is reputable company with great quality and much much more affordable prices. Revive also has a wide selection of organic oils.

Most of these items can be purchased through catalogs such as Sun Lite Herbs 937- 464-9099, Ann’s Naturals 270-524-4680 (These two places are my favorites!! Ann’s especially has very reasonable prices!) Nature’s Warehouse would carry most of these too, as well as some health food stores. And of course, good old Amazon has some of these also.

Sun Lite Herbs carries both of the Nature’s Sunshine products I mentioned, plus the Horehound Blend, cough syrups, salves and so much more. The girls at Sun Lite who take orders are always super helpful and so pleasant to speak with.

Here you can see the prices and how many of Ann’s tinctures are safe for infants and children. The Resp-Aid is at the bottom of the page.

We were grateful for God’s healing on all of us and that there was enough improvement that we were able to leave for Indiana to visit Jerald’s parents on Saturday. It was a short visit, returning home late Monday night. We weren’t there for Christmas, but we were happy to overlap with more of the family just a wee bit before they left.

Do yourself a favor and stock your medicine cabinet with natural remedies before you need them this winter!

Handmaiden

Published on December 15, 2025December 15, 2025 by Violet Rhodes1 Comment

With the Christmas season upon us, I have been musing about Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

I have long been impressed how she called herself a handmaiden, which is the main focus I’ve been thinking about. Handmaiden particularly means a female servant, who’s essential function is to serve. She lives to accomplish her master’s will. Willing to serve in whatever way or place her master asks. A true servant heart will serve without thought of personal gain.

Luke 1:28 reads, And the angel came in unto her, and said, hail thou that art favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Long before she realized it, God had planned for her to be the favored, chosen one to carry His Promised Son. I believe she was living her life in a humble, quiet manner. Content to serve in the daily grind where she was called. She was not out soliciting attention to her good deeds or trying to shrug off her responsibilities. She was simply a lowly servant, faithful in the ordinary.

For most of us women today, our lives are similar in the repetitive, obscure places of service. We’re not pastors preaching powerful messages. Or leading massive Bible study or kids clubs. Cleaning the grimy bathroom or washing a child’s face is of no less importance. Can we find contentment in the service God asks of us?

God looked for a woman who would respond willingly. In complete submission. We see Mary’s response in Luke 1:38. …Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word.

It doesn’t mean she didn’t question or wonder at the astonishing news the angel brought. Verse 29 in this same chapter references her fears and confusion. She was a normal woman with hormones and feelings just like us. Who of us wouldn’t be disturbed by such exotic, yet heavy news?! And yet, she chose to believe! To submit. To release her fears and doubts to complete trust in her Savior God.

No doubt this new charge given her would bring accusations and gossip. Do you think she laid awake at night, playing conversations in her mind of how she would love to set them straight?! Did she wish to prove to them, she had nothing in this of herself? That she had not cheated on Joseph?

Are we humbly submissive in what and where God asks us to serve? Willing and ready, even when it takes us out of our comfort zone? Do we respond in cheerful obedience, even when it means sacrificing our time, or dreams? Can we forgive a misunderstanding or thoughtless comment made about ourslves? I’d dare say the gossip about Mary was much worse than most of us have faced. And yet, being the virtuous woman she was, I don’t think she retaliated. (Incase this is stepping on your toes, please know mine are being firmly squashed.)

What about our willingness to serve in some lowly place? There’s always needy spots in church. Are we happy to help? Especially in ‘behind the scenes’ service. Or do we wish we could serve in a more notable position? Or maybe we like to hide behind the safety of “others can do this job better“. While there’s truth to that, it’s not an excuse to not do our job. Suppose Mary had responded like that?

Some women want to travel, teach or serve in ‘noteworthy’ ways before they settle down and get married. But God’s call for them is to be a young wife. There’s plenty to be learned in marriage, or other noteworthy service so it’s not like you get out of bumpy terrain either way. Plus, I believe in God’s eyes, service is service. I don’t believe He measures it by noticeable or not noticeable.

Some young women would like to get married immediately or sooner. But God calls them to single service for Him for a few (or many) years. Neither is above the other. There’s lessons to be learned in either place.

Some women would love to mother a houseful of children, but find infertility to be their lonely companion. Some women had no thoughts on family size and fight tears and overwhelm at the realization of yet another little gift headed her way.

God calls some to walk the thorny path of cancer or precarious valleys of emotional health. Maybe your call is to walk beside someone precious who battles these things.

We all have dreams and heart longings. And God blesses each of us abundantly with good gifts! But sometimes the things He allows in our lives are way off our radar. Instead of curling clenched fists at the itinerary God asks of us, can we keep our palms open and uplifted to His will? It’s ok to feel that initial fear, confusion, and wondering questions with no answers. God knows. He sees our heart’s desire. Mary too was troubled. But her response then was humble acceptance, trust in her Savior, and eventually, a spirit of praise.

Luke 1:46 & 47 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

Am I God’s handmaiden?

Christmas DIY’s

Published on December 6, 2025December 6, 2025 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

Not only is the house beginning to look like Christmas, but it’s smelling like that too- I’ve just finished stringing up cinnamon ornaments and dried oranges.

Over Thanksgiving vacation, the children and I made the old fashioned cinnamon applesauce ornaments/cutouts as well as some salt dough ones. I had never made either one, although the salt dough ones are much like play dough except you then bake the shapes. Thanks to my friend Grace for recently sharing a recipe….

We don’t put up Christmas trees so we didn’t make either of these ornaments for that. But I think they’re very cute strung up with dried oranges!

For the salt dough:

Combine 2 cup flour and 1 cup salt, then slowly pour in 1 cup water. Knead 5 minutes. Let the dough rest in the fridge for 20 minutes. Roll out and use any sort of cookie cutters you like. While the dough is still soft, you can also make cute imprints by pressing on leaves, twigs or evergreen sprigs. Use a straw to punch holes in the top of each one. Place on parchment lined baking sheets and bake at 275 for 2 hours. You could also let these air dry but I preferred the baking so they’re done quicker.

Looks like sugar cookies, but the taste will quickly tell you otherwise!

This was a perfect project for the children the next afternoon. They’re always wanting something to paint.

These would look cute strung up with a garland of greenery. Or you can also use these as gift tags. Tie it on with a sprig of greens and gingham ribbon or jute cord for a cute, earthy look!

For the cinnamon applesauce ornaments:

Combine 2 cups cinnamon, 1 ¹/² cups applesauce, 2 T. ground cloves and 4 T. Elmers glue. Knead a few minutes. Sprinkle cinnamon or cloves on your surface to roll out the dough. We had some trouble with the dough cracking apart. We mostly used gingerbread men, stars and bells for the cut outs. Remember to use a straw to punch a hole for stringing. Let air dry for several days. I think these can baked at a low temperature, but we did the air dry method. We were waiting for the dried oranges to arrive anyway.

The cinnamon applesauce ornaments definitely won out in my opinion. Yes they were messier to work with than the salt dough, but the aroma!! It smells exactly like Christmas with no synthetics! And the dark color makes it pop more with the oranges.

I ended up stringing most of these since the jute cord can unravel as you thread the items on and the children quickly tired of it.

It’s best to tie the string and then evenly space them out.

This combo along with greenery also makes a cute centerpiece.

You can always use real greenery and add pinecones or whatever else you wish. I don’t like the mess of fresh greens, so I used some fake glittery greens.

The children also made paper snowflakes to hang by a couple windows. All of these extras hanging around makes things look full and a mite cluttered, but I’m OK with it because it’s temporary. And its cheap, simple fun for children and their mom.

You can dry your own oranges in the oven but I could guess how mine would turn out. (They wouldn’t! 🙂 So I opted to skip that and ordered these off Amazon. I don’t know if Hobby Lobby would have them this time of year or not?? I’m guessing Michael’s crafts would.

Would you just look at this sweet little girl?! Christmas of 2020, Josie and I strung cranberries and popcorn 🥰

October’s Food and Festivities

Published on October 31, 2025October 31, 2025 by Violet Rhodes2 Comments

This month was one of those when multiple activities and responsibilities involving church and school, happened to land on us. If you’re familiar with the Mennonite culture, we take our turns cleaning the church house, being Sunday lunch host, etc. I was on for cleaning, for school hot lunch and Jerald was on for school devotions. We also visited the classrooms that morning. Then it was our turn to host this past Sunday. There’s a family prepared each Sunday, in case there are visitors who may need a place for lunch.

For school hot lunch there’s always two people helping each other. For something fun, we took Nachos. We spread aluminum foil down the center of the tables, then spread out piles of chips, and in between, taco meat topped with cheese sauce. They fixed their plates with rice, beans, and veggies, but then they could dig in and dip nachos to their hearts’ content! We also served root beer floats and pumpkin muffins.

I’ll include the taco meat recipe I made, although it’s more guesstimates. I had done nachos two years ago for school, so mostly followed what I’d written down for that. I keep a tablet by my cookbooks where I write down my menu and amounts I make for hosting or other events. I love this for later reference! I also write down who we hosted or what the occasion was.

I fried 5 pounds of hamburger and added approximately 3-4 Tablespoons homemade taco seasoning, 2 pints salsa and 4 pints of pinto beans, pureed in the blender. This helps stretch the meat, plus I like the added bulk. And you’d never know there’s beans in it! The salsa adds in peppers and onions. 5 pounds was plenty of meat for our school, but I wanted leftovers for my family later. We served 16 people. It takes quite a bit more meat when you spread it out like this, so keep that in mind if you want to serve this. And here’s a tip- whenever I have large amounts of hamburger to fry, I’ll put it in a big roasting pan, add water and bake at 350 for a couple hours. It’s super simple. None of this standing at my stovetop stirring burger and splattering the top with grease!

When we visited school, I took caramel popcorn for a treat. This recipe uses coconut sugar and zero corn syrup!

For Sunday lunch hosting, I branched out and served pulled pork stacks, a newish menu for us. I like to think outside the box when I’m cooking for others, if it’s something doable and not overly time consuming. In my current stage, I need no fuss menus! Since we bought the meat from a local food trailer who smokes their pork, it was super duper simple! All I needed to do was heat it.

Pulled pork stacks consist of: pulled pork, barbecue sauce, baked beans, coleslaw, shredded cheese and top with Frito corn chips. It’s scrumptious!! Our guests loved it! This recipe idea comes out of Simple Cooking.

I also bought the baked beans. But I have a tasty recipe to make your own here.

I also served dinner rolls, apple crisp, and ice cream. Much as I love to bake fresh milled breads, my husband gave me orders to buy dinner rolls to save time. And indeed, I was grateful I did. My baby keeps me hopping; it seems I simply forget I don’t have as much time as I used to.

We had plenty of apples on hand that needed used up, so that made an easy choice for dessert. I baked it on Saturday and reheated it Sunday after we got home from church.

I often use coconut sugar for a brown sugar replacement, but it tends to make the food darker plus has a stronger flavor. Recently, I’ve started making my own brown sugar. I wanted to use that for the apple crisp, since it was for company. I use the Morena (zulka) cane sugar from Walmart and drizzle in molasses according to color. I don’t measure, but probably had around 8 cups sugar and 1/3 cup molasses. Mix thoroughly with your hands to completely combine. Don’t hold me to these amounts but it gives you an idea.

Here you can see the difference side by side.

When you think of fall festivities, you also think of plaids, burnt orange, or mustard colored sweaters, warm hats and cozy boots. Or that’s how my brain does it. But every outing this fall, except one, I was hot. How disappointing!

We’ve had a mild fall with downright hottish weather. I’ve been pining for cooler temperatures, especially since I’ve been on the excessive side of warm-blooded since Macie was born. (Either hormones or the mom flab that likes to hang on- uhhm) I mean, I like sweaters! But its ridiculous to wear them when it increases the heat.

Our church had an outdoor hymn singing one Sunday night hosted by Jonas and Miriam. The weather was almost perfect- just a little too warm in my opinion. There was a hottish sort of breeze, but as the sun set, it died down and became more pleasant. I wore boots and hoped for a sweater, but it was in vain. I was so warm I wanted to pull those boots off! We all brought snacks to nibble on afterwards, alongside a table of hot drinks. Although I, in my overheated state, had not the slightest desire to partake of anything hot.

Our church also got together to make apple cider again this fall at Norman and Kathryn’s farm. We ourselves don’t actually drink much cider, but it’s a fun activity to do with friends. It was a perfect evening with pleasant temperatures. Really, it was. I wore flops, no sweater, and was comfortable, if that tells you anything.

In the past, we would fill jugs with a funnel and measuring pitcher. This year we finally got efficient and filled jugs with a siphon.

Jerald enjoys cooking up this stew over the fire for our supper.

Another family made these ham and cheese bars.

There’s also plenty of yummy finger foods

One evening, our family had a fun little outing at a pumpkin farm near Avoca, Nebraska.

This was a smaller farm, but still had a lot of things for the children to enjoy. We were glad there were no Halloween decorations either.

And so it was, on this particular evening we were heading out to Bloom Farms, I was stewing about all the jackets and stuff we were dragging along. Earlier in the day it had been sunny. Backstory- twice, in just a couple weeks, we piled in all the things for outdoor evenings and, as I figured, it was useless. The children even ran barefoot the one night! It makes so much extra unloading when we get home.

So, on this night, I only grabbed a light sweater for me. Wearing flip flops raced through my mind as I sailed out the door, but it seemed a little off for a fall outing, so I slipped in shoes. And what a shame it was- I could’ve put my new boots to use! Late afternoon it clouded over and the north wind blew strong! It was COLD! For the first time in probably months, I was actually chilled. I was grateful the children had jackets and the thick blanket we had for Macie. Whenever I shivered or mentioned the cold wind, Jerald kept ribbing me that it was exactly what I wished for! He thought it was a good joke on me. I kept fearing for Macie in that cold wind. Lest you fear my mothering skills, I promise I had her bundled up. In typical dad fashion, Jerald kept saying, “she’s fine- the fresh air is good for her.” And so she was. She has not been sick yet, for which I am grateful!

A Nod To My Youthful Past

Published on October 16, 2025October 16, 2025 by Violet Rhodes2 Comments

This post would have been published two or three weeks ago, if I could’ve found the picture I wanted for this blog sooner. I located it this week in a tote of personal items, nestled among other random pictures of weird stunts I did in years gone by.

In my searching through old photo albums, nostalgia hit me full force. 20 years ago, I was teaching school and living life full blast. I loved humor and a good joke, of which I compiled my own joke book. (No it’s not published, ha ha.) I created skits and acted them out on my own, after making my audience promise they would laugh at me so I wouldn’t feel stupid. (Trust me, there were some lame ideas coming forth). My audience typically consisted of neices and nephews, my siblings and spouses, and my parents.

Musing over the fun-loving girl I used to be, brought a sense of sadness. I wish I could still be like that! In rare moments when I feel reeeeaaaalllllyyy good, the me of long ago pops up. Now days, I’m wrapped in the trenches of raising a family, having a baby this year, sleep deprivation, combined with physical and mental health challenges, doesn’t leave much space for lightheartedness. My life *feels hounded by difficulties. It takes the whole of my brain to focus on necessities, so there’s nothing left to exert to humor. (*not saying it actually is. I think it’s more feeling like it)

Then there’s energy needed for our children who need constant training and guidance. Plus the burden I carry that they’d grow up to see their need of Jesus. Life is hard. And I want them to realize and accept that life isn’t always fairness and fries, dished out with hot fudge sundaes. Can I blame my melancholy nature for the pessimism I’m feeling? Are these burdens, mid-life weights coming on? Could someone please identify with me?!

Set me straight. Yes, God is good. All the time, God is good! Life in my stage is a blessing, and I am thankful for my family!

It wasn’t that I didn’t have trials when I was young, it’s just that now I feel covered up with heavier responsibilities and cares of life, that there’s no extra mental space for friviolarity. Possibly, there’s maturity thrown in there somewhere too. But back to the girl I used to be….

When I was in my upper teens and early twenties, I wrote poems right and left. Sometimes they came together without much effort. Often, they came out of heart struggles or messages I heard. As you can tell by the one in this post, I wrote some with less than profitable content.

My dad bought this Chevy S10 truck for me to drive when I was teaching school. It was a stick shift, which was excellent for me to learn how to operate. Yes, I stalled it more than once, and yes, I learned how to squall tires- on purpose! I was glad I learned straight stick driving because the VW I bought when I was 22 was also a manual. But by then I was comfortable with driving a stick. And yes, here’s shocking truth; I used to drink pop and loved Dr. Pepper! Shivers! Or wait, maybe if I’d start drinking Dr. Pepper again my problems would disappear?!

My Truck And I

My little old truck and I

We go whizzin’ and sailin’ by

Past the slow folks that creep along

I hit the gas as I sing a song

Shiftin’ gears and grindin’ some

folks proly think “boy she’s dumb!”

But who cares- I don’t give a rip

I get my Dr. Pepper and take a sip!

Sometimes a wild streak gets in me

I slow to a stop and breathe deeply….

Then I mash the gas and turn the wheel

Spin the tires and listen to the squeal!

Then I sit back and try to calm down

And drive more carefully when I’m in town

In good looks, my truck ain’t got much for it

But I ain’t driving a truck on credit

We get along good without a guy

My little old Chevy truck and I!

I wrote this 4 or 5 years before I met Jerald. And 20 years later, I DO NOT get along good without my guy!! I love him like crazy for so many reasons. His kind, stable, God-fearing, forgiving heart melts mine to puddles.

Here’s my VW bug I had next. Ladybug and daisy seat covers were 100% my style! I loved my bug and made lots of great memories with it. We also used it on our wedding day! ♥️

Summer’s End Photo Journal

Published on September 4, 2025September 4, 2025 by Violet RhodesLeave a comment

Two years ago I did a blog like this. It was one of my most viewed posts, which tells me people like this sort. I certainly enjoy real life pictures in the blogs I read, so here’s some highlights of our summer. (I don’t so much like when bloggers use photos off Unsplash or the like.) Be real people. That’s my theory.

Most of the summer was spent at home staying alive. Eating, sleeping, feeding baby, napping, cleaning, washing clothes, cooking. Trying to keep the house and children under control and not get overwhelmed in the process. Not much excitement out of the ordinary, but that’s ok with me. Not all excitement is thrilling.