Making your own candy–why bother?

Image via tamanna_rumee of Pixabay

Homemade candy… Who has the time?

I know you’re thinking, not me. It would probably just be easier to buy the candy and off we go. Wrong, it might be quicker, but it won’t taste as good.

It does take some time but the results are out of this world.

Do I need a professional kitchen or expensive cookware?

No, all you need is a clean area in which to prepare your delicacies. Although you will need a candy thermometer, and having a double boiler is good, especially if you are making dipped candies.

What about the ingredients… Do I have to use top of the line items?

No, you don’t have to use the most expensive ingredients, but I’m not going to lie to you, sometimes you will need to use better items. It will be a lot of trial and error.

Patience… Patience… Patience…

If you want immediate results this may not be the thing for you, but if you will give a little time and a few deep breathes, the delicious goodies will be filling your gift boxes year round.

Just a couple of recipes…

I will leave a couple of easy beginner recipes. Please let me know how things turn out.

Peanut Butter Fudge

•  1 bag of peanut butter chips (11 or 12 oz)
•  1 can of sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)

1. Line an 8x8” pan with parchment paper.
2. Combine the peanut butter chips and the sweetened condensed milk in a microwave-safe bowl.
3. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted and smooth.
4. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
5. Refrigerate for 3 to 5 hours until firm, then cut into small pieces. (Courtesy of YouTube’s Sarah Hooper Home with Shoop)

Easy No-Bake Coconut Candy

• ½ cup salted butter, melted
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 cups flaked sweetened coconut
• ½ cup chocolate spread

1. In a bowl mix melted butter, powdered sugar and coconut together until combined evenly. You can use your hands.
2. Form mixture into 1” balls and press down slightly in the center.
3. Fill a zip-top bag with chocolate or chocolate-hazelnut spread.
4. Pipe a ¼ tsp amount onto each candy.
5. Store in an airtight container for up to one week. (Courtesy of Shelly from Cookies & Cups)

Thank you for visiting!
This should be a good beginning on your candy making journey. If you make these, please let me know how they turn out.

LL Smith

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to thy mouth!” Psalm 119:103 KJV

Decluttering: An emotional journey

 

Image via geralt of Pixabay

JUNK, HAND-ME-DOWNS, COLLECTIONS 

No matter what we call it, we all have it. Items wanted or unwanted are filling our houses to the brim. How we obtained them doesn’t matter. 

So, as we sit in our homes surveying all that is around us the piles keep growing. We need to decide whether to allow the beloved items to take over our home or break through the emotional attachments to these things and let them go to another home.

THINKING PAST YOUR EMOTIONS 

First of all our emotions play such a big part in our lives, and what we want around us. We need to realize that such items do not actually hold the memories,our brains do. Our physical attachment is just a way to try to keep the feelings with the memory.

GETTING READY TO DECLUTTER

Now that we have set our mind to get rid of things, we must have a game plan.

Start with baby steps.

Start with a drawer, a desk top, or a small corner. If needed turn on some good upbeat music, something that will keep you moving.

DIGGING INTO THE PAST

Let’s do the easy elimination first…

Papers, wrappers, anything that was supposed to be thrown in the trash, put it there. 

Financial papers? Lay them aside to go through during your down time. 

Even make a few different piles such as…

• Keep pile
• Give-away pile 
• Sell pile

Start with a few items in question, if that is difficult go to something easier. If you are like me, this journey is going to have to be done in layers. 

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was your clutter.

The road can be long and tiresome and there will be days when you feel like your stuff is multiplying. But remember, you CAN do this! 

Eventually you'll see progress and will feel so much lighter (physically and spiritually).

Final thoughts...

I would love to see your progress because I am also on this journey. If you're so inclined, please leave us a comment about it below.

My hope is that this will provide you with some gentle encouragement to help you get started.

LL Smith

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your heart. Ecclesiastes 9:10

ShoutOuts

A lesson in Boldness via Momma Writes

A B-Free Recovery-Zone for Addiction-Free Living!

My Dad: Celebrating the life of Dural Glen Sizemore

Dural Glen Sizemore
(Born in Dawson Springs, Kentucky)
October 2, 1939 - July 17, 2026

I remember…

My Dad trying to teach me to ride a bike. He wore out his legs from holding the back and moving like crazy to keep up. He knew I was afraid I would fall.

I remember…

Sunday afternoon car rides, just to sight-see, and of course we got ICE CREAM .

I remember…

Those times that I would stand on his feet and we would dance around the floor. No music, just whatever song was in my Dad’s head.

I remember…

Watching my Dad sit in his chair reading anything he could get his hands on. In turn passing on his lifelong love of reading.

I remember…

He painted freehand, no stencils, my and my brother’s bedrooms. My brother’s was cowboys and Indians, racing down a hillside.  Mine was decorated with the old nursery rhymes.

My parents, brother and I

It’s amazing what you remember when situations cause you to reflect. All the small things you take for granted as children, become huge when the memories are all you have left.

My Dad was a strong man who cared deeply for his family. We were his priority and he made sure that we never worried about anything. My brother and I enjoyed a carefree childhood.

Dad loved to tell stories. It didn’t matter who you were, there was a story coming your way, but it was up to you to decide whether it was made up or not. There was a tip-off, though. If he made it up, he would start chuckling and try to tell you the end of the story.

Now that my time for making memories with my dad is over, I can look fondly at all the things he taught and instilled in me. First and foremost was to always be honest in all that you do as well as my avid love of reading. And most of all, my love for desserts of all kinds.

Dad escorting me into a new and wonderful life

There are not enough words in this whole, entire world to tell you what my Dad means to me and how much I love him.

I will forever be proud to be called Dural and Pat’s daughter.

Because of you Dad, I can stand tall and be thankful for the sweet heritage you have given to me

Some day soon, we will meet again.

The Dural Sizemore Family

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 KJV

LL Smith

The Beginning after the End

 

Image via Pexels of Pixabay

So it begins…

Time goes by so fast. One day you’re standing in the church, white dress, bridesmaids,and lots of guests. At the front of the church is the love of your life, waiting to start your future together.       

Then, in a blink, you’re standing in the funeral home, watching the casket close on a life you weren’t done living.

Where do I go from here?

So the funeral is over. The cemetery service and the meal are through. I went back to our home. Oh how quiet it is, having to try to figure out life…

Eventually the calls, texts, and invitations dwindle off. Then you think, this is not what I signed up for.

BILLS! 

LAWNMOWERS! 

WASHING MACHINES!

Reality will soon hit, because life does not stop when your spouse dies. 

The bills keep coming, things break down and need to be fixed. There are so many things to take care of. 

In this situation, the realization of all the jobs your spouse took care of, have just transitioned to your jobs. So you stumble through learning the finances. You look on the internet to learn how to change a lawnmower battery, and you buy out all of Menard’s plumbing area to fix the washing machine drain. (Not really, but it felt like it…)

New normal

Life will never be normal again and this isn’t the fairy tale I dreamt of.

Hopefully, for folks who find themselves in these challenging and life-altering situations, like me, you’ll find a place where you have peace. 

Maybe consider joining a church, or meeting up with friends for lunch, or joining a Christian singles group, who will pray for you and with you and give you the opportunity to do the same for them. 

Most of all… LIVE! 

Final notes

I have found the best way to make it through my days is to let Jesus be my Rock, Protector and Provider.

When I was dependent on my husband to be everything (which was wonderful), I somehow lost sight of what God really wanted to be in my life. I’ve since learned He wanted to be the ultimate One I depended on. 

I now do.

He always has (and still does) every moment of every day.

Hope to have you back for the next edition, and cover me in prayer as I begin this new adventure in blogging.

"...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5 (New King James Version)

LLSmith