I’ve always wanted to do one of these: a Fashion Post!
Just for good practice, and good measure, I’m going to take on a Sampley girl each week as our subject. Don’t worry, our styles differ widely.
Since I had the idea, I go first.
The Anna winter style is somewhat derived from obscure European sources and uses a single bold color and soft patterns. Like Pollyanna meets Pioneer. The thesaurus says unique, simple, rare, archaic, old-fashioned, melancholy.

Corduroy skirt with big, funny pockets. Broken sleeve lines look good on short arms, and the noticeable necklace at that length draws the eye vertically. Romantic boots provided by my dear sister Candle. (If boots can be romantic!  :) )

Basic and intact. Green and gray is usually nice on a brunette. Those are not knee-socks, but boot warmers that I found at Claire's. They are thick, loose knee-sock things without the feet. Same warmness, different look. The subtle-patterned scarf spices the hoodie into something a little more artistic. The center-seamed skirt gives length to the stubby gray.

I had to do this one because it's such a classic look. Unfortunately, my ipod over-exposed the white shirt, so you can't see the fabulous ruffles at the neck. A sort of Ingrid Bergman timeless quality. Again, three-quarter length sleeves and skirt give height.

This isn't the best picture, but in an outfit of brown shades, the peacock blue catches the eye makes it work. Full skirt this time, but boots in a color that distinguish them.Stripes at the neck eliminates the need for bold jewelry.

This outfit is my favorites because the sweater is new. Against different values of blue, the deep red stands out like a little intrigue in mystery. The dress and sweater are both soft, swinging materials that fold against each other instead of wrinkle. Black stockings have a way of making us notice the face. And flat shoes with green velvet bows are the finishing touch. No jewelry keeps this from being overdone. It is still fun and comfortable.

Thanks for your attention! I'd love to know your thoughts or opinions, or suggestions!
Keep a look-out for Candle-styles next week!

Matthew 14:23-33

 

 

Along the sunny paths of peace and through the gorge of
doubt,
I’ll hold His hand and praise the Lord, for He will lead me
Out.
My hand the Lord takes in His own
And keeps it till He brings me home.
So in His footsteps I’ll reside,
And follow closely by His side.
He walks on paths upon the waves and leans His hand to
Me,
For Jesus knows I follow best when He is all I
See.

Domestic Newsflash!

Rain falls steadily on the tin rooftop above me as I prepare to scratch down a few words with an apology at my shocking lateness in writing. I shan’t use any one of the usual excuses (business, holidays, family sickness,) but will say truthfully that I evaded my blog. Not from unpleasantness, but plain and simple stubbornness and distaste that sometimes follows the launching of a new project.
Home has been a tip-topsy world since I last wrote: a zoo of activities and accidents that include a broken nose, a couch purchase and return and exchange, the straw-bed garden catching fire, a confrontation of stealing lumber, a prison-fugitive that turned out fake, a three-day cold, and some car mortification. (Well, not exactly mortification. It’s just that since the diesel car was filled with gas, it ran funny and would only start after three, painful tries. Cori and I received sympathy looks from every male person in town.) (The prison-fugitive is a funny story, too. After alerting the police, warning our neighbors, and locking ourselves out of the studio, we finally deduced that he was a sad-background garbage man blessed with the suspicious embellishments of our highly-active imaginations. We hereby disclaim our accusations and hope he serves no time.) 
Here’s a grand piece of news: the new and curious story that has so occupied my mind and my thoughts is all written up! It is a children’s Christmas story; small but sweet, and waiting hot and fresh on Candle’s desk to be edited, illustrated, and published! Look for it next year under the title ‘Old Lady Nabbit,’ and with the catch line (I almost called it epitaph! I don‘t want to kill it yet. :) ) ‘Had a Bad Habit.’  It even begins and ends with a catchy poem. The hero’s name is Archie. He is a twelve-year-old boy who must overcome a tall staircase of difficulties (speaking figuratively,) all the way from a third-story widow fall to a terrifying great, great aunt!
Alright. Enough of the commercials.
Perhaps I should have named this newsflash, ‘Dad’s Bad Day,’ because Dad has a special habit of eating doughnuts on Friday morning before work. Unfortunately, on his bad day, he missed them. Then, while hauling a load of lumber from the store to his construction site, Dad noticed a car following him. The driver had been robbed of a load of lumber, and was pretty sure that he had found it on Dad’s suburban racks. But my dad is not a robber! So the man had to give up. To crown this, when Dad came home after dark, seeking a peaceful evening by therapeutic wrestling, a foul head bash dis-aligned his nose that had to be set back and doctored with ice.
In a nutshell, since I want to both grow and be uplifting: I have learned this week to remember that when I pray for help in overcoming a fault, I had better prepare to have trials that try me; patience is a virtue, impatience is not; it doesn’t pay to be scared of the dark after watching a scary movie, making a three-cup difference mistake in soap isn’t a big deal because it set up in an ice cream bucket anyway; and the song Little Saint Nick isn’t necessarily Christian, even if it is Christmas.
I don’t hear the rain anymore, it must have turned into silent snowflakes. I shall end this post right here, with a God Bless!

This month I concocted these simplest soups ever. Throw the ingredients in a pot an hour or less before supper: these amounts served nine.

Mexican Soup

Boil some chicken until done
(I buy boneless pieces at Aldi. Or open a can of chicken.)
Heat:
2 cans of black beans
1 can of tomato sauce
2 cans of diced tomatoes
(or home-canned tomatoes)
1 can of corn
and some odd noodles, in a larger pot together.
Spice up with black pepper, salt, basil, lemon (or lime) juice,
chili powder, and hot sauce (or salsa.)
Shred up chicken and add to soup.
You probably will need to add water.
Add anything else interesting.
:)



Tater Soup

Fry up some bacon, or add bacon bits later
Boil about 5 or 6 diced potatoes
(I like using red potatoes with some of the peeling still on.)
Chop up some carrots and add.
Mix up 3 or 4 TBS of flour and stir in
1 cup of water
And 1 cup of milk slowly.
Make sure there are no floury lumps,
Then pour into boiling tater mixture.
Add more water and milk.
Add shredded bacon.
Season with black pepper, and lots of salt.
Also stir in one or two cups of cheddar cheese.
Note: bacon will soften and turn rubbery in the soup, so fry it up nice and crispy!
:)