Things and Stuff

Vintage Reads

2012-01-16T08:27:00.008-06:00

One of my favorite things in the world is vintage children's books. I love the sweet stories, and nostalgic illustrations that sort of take me
back in my mind to a simpler time.

I was blessed

with a wonderful childhood and so many special memories associated with my younger days. I have the most wonderful parents in the world, and I am so thankful for them! I am also thankful that I grew up in a time when children were allowed to be children.

I guess vintage books help me revisit those days, but whatever the reason I can hardly pass up a pretty little child's book from yesteryear. I started collecting them when my children were little, and continued when they

were well pass the days of being interested in them. My husband teased me for buying them, he just couldn't quite get my fascination with them. I'm glad I kept it up now, with all of my grandchildren they certainly come in handy!

I picked up some a couple of weeks ago when on a thrifting jaunt and thought I'd share them with you.

Here are a few of them. I'll share more of them another day. Aren't these sweet? I haven't had a chance to sit down and read them yet, but I can hardly wait for a free minute to do so.

Do you have a favorite book from childhood? I'd love for you to share it in the comments! I loved the little red or orange biographies of great Americans, The Little House series, Little Women, books of poetry, and children's cookbooks, but my favorite books were the things to make and do type of books. Even as a kid I was a crafter at heart!

Pictures in String

2012-01-10T16:45:00.009-06:00

Okay, it's January 10th and I still have unfinished Christmas presents. Sad, I know, but some things don't get done on time at my house, (a lot of things, actually.)

Anyway, the grandkids all like to help wash dishes. You know how it is water, a chair, soapy bubbles, what's not to love, if you are a kid that is? So I decided I'd take some of their precious gifts of art and embroider them each their own little dishtowel, at least the oldest ones who can draw. It shows them how special I think their art is, and how special it is to me that they want to help. So I started the project in plenty of time, but lacked one picture. I finally rounded up the little artist and persuaded her to part with a sheet from her portfolio, but I still haven't finished that particular towel. However, I thought I'd share what I've got so far. Aren't they darling, just like them, each one so individual and full of personality.

Don't you all want a set of these lovelies? I may just have to go back and do some for myself!

I'm linking up with Ruby Jean for Sew Crafty Tuesday

Jamming it Up

2012-01-07T18:16:00.006-06:00

Honestly, I don't know if marmalade is classified as a jam or not. I told you before I've never particularly cared for marmalade as a topping for toast, biscuits, or scones, that is not until now.

Kumquat marmalade is better than any marmalade I've ever tasted. Now to be fair, since it hasn't been on my favored list I haven't tasted a lot of marmalade, but what I have tasted makes a nice compliment to poultry or ham in some sort of glaze or Jezebel sauce, but I find it just a bit too bitter to sweeten bread.

This is not so when it comes to kumquat marmalade, at least in my book. Maybe because I actually like the tangy bite in a kumquat and am used to ingesting them peel and all, as they are meant to be eaten. Whatever the reason I now have a new favorite topping for breakfast breads and surprisingly it's a marmalade.

This takes a bit longer than the satsuma marmalade I made earlier, unless you are fortunate enough to have seedless kumquats, but it is well worth the extra effort.

So if you have a lovely citrus tree in your yard with beautiful little tart fruit, with a quirky name and a bit of a bite, and you have up until now thought of it mainly as ornamental, you might want to think again and give this recipe a try. I found it online, as usual, at A Cooking Life. The author gives wonderful step by step instructions, with beautiful pictures, so I won't try to recreate all of that here. Give it a try and come back and let me know what you think.

Linking up with Shay at Quilting in My Pyjamas for

My Husband the Problem Solver

2012-01-04T20:52:00.006-06:00

One of my husband's many talents is problem solving. He is really pretty good at it, but I have to confess sometimes it annoys me. He almost enjoys finding problems in order to solve them.

Now one of my flaws is that I sometimes like to ignore problems. I hate confrontation, and I prefer to think happy thoughts rather than work through problems.

Lately, though the problem solving has really come in handy. After cooking a ham for a family celebration my Mr. wanted to add a glaze, but he wanted it browned to perfection. The ham was rather large and the perfectionist wanted a perfectly even, shiny finish. He had been thinking on it the whole time the ham was baking. "I've got it!" he said suddenly and jumped out of his chair and headed to the truck. In just minutes he was back with a torch in his hand. I wasn't sure how this was all going to end, but I must say the results were very becoming. I accused him of going all Food Network on me. He grinned showing he enjoyed the accusation. I have to admit, not only is he good at problem solving, He's also a really good cook!!

Thrifting Date

2012-01-03T20:02:00.018-06:00

After spending a lot of time hunting, including part of the holidays, my husband decided to take me on the date of my choice. We started out junking, and ended the day Friday by going toBellingraph Gardens to their Magic Christmas in Lights. We both really enjoyed the day, and he actually suggested we go junking again on Saturday. Of course, I couldn't turn down a chance like that. I came home with vintage patterns...................

some cast iron Amish figures..........

a sweet dollar teapot, vintage children's books, (which I'll share later) some glassware, other sewing stuff, and a huge cast iron Dutch oven, all at a flea market.

We went to this thrift store that was like none other I've ever been to. All of their merchandise was in crates with flip tops, out on tables. After everyone looked through the crates they asked everyone to move to the front of the store. They took down all of those crates and brought in new ones, then they turned everyone loose to go through the boxes they just brought out. There was a sign on the wall with prices. I found a box of old Christmas ornaments, and I paid .79 a pound for them. Aren't they cute?

Fun times!

Looking Back

2012-01-01T22:47:00.019-06:00

Here are a few pictures that didn't make the blog last year, or actually some might have. I'm too lazy to scroll all the way back to see.

Reminiscing Christmas

2011-12-29T18:28:00.003-06:00

I have had so much going on during Christmas I haven't even paused to post anything Christmas related. No matter how I try to slow down and simplify during this blessed season I always find myself in a flurry. Most of it is wonderfully, special happenings, but it can still get overwhelming.

In all of the celebration I don't ever want to forget what it is that I'm celebrating. Each year I when I think of the Christmas story my mother's heart goes to Mary. I can't imagine the tidal wave of emotions she must have went through. Her expectations surely must have been different than the way her life turned out. I also think of Joseph and the battle that must have risen in him whenever doubt plagued his mind. I think of those things each year.

This year, though, I couldn't get the shepherds out of my mind. How do you suppose their lives were changed after an angel encounter and hearing the perplexing truth that the Messiah was born in a stable. They actually witnessed the scene, and after it was all over, what then? Did they go away different? Did it change the course of their lives? Were they still alive when Jesus started His ministry thirty years later? I really wish I knew.

What of us? We read the story and sing the carols, but have we truly been changed by that long ago birth, life, death, and resurrection? Some people see it only as a sweet Christmas story, part of a tradition of Christmas. Oh, I hope it is more than that to you! It is the truth that rocked the world then, and it still does today. God's only Son sent to live a perfect life and willingly lay it down in order to pay the price for the sin of mankind. We owe Him everything!

The wonder of Christmas is that we can all be changed, made new, born again. So we can celebrate that all year long! Merry Christmas!

Satsuma Marmalade

2011-12-17T22:31:00.014-06:00

Satsumas are one of my favorite fruits. If you haven't experienced this fabulous citrus fruit, I can't possibly explain the essence of all you are missing out on. They are easy to peel, with the perfect balance of tart and sweet. They are in abundance around here this time of year, and usually we simply eat them as they are until they are all gone.

Last year we juiced some and

froze the juice. This year my daughter decided to make marmalade out of them. I had been planning on making kumquat marmalade, but had honestly never thought of using satsumas for it. She called to say how great it turned out, and since a local farmer had just invited my husband and son to come and pick the rest of his crop before they froze I just happened to have plenty on hand, so I decided to try my hand at it.

My daughter came over and we decided to work together. It was a lot of fun. The whole process took quite a while. We worked on it practically half of the day, and we only got 8 half-pints, that's only 4 half-pints a piece. We really didn't mind that much. It was a new experience and we enjoyed doing it together.

I've never eaten a lot of marmalade, I mainly use it to baste grilled chicken, but after smelling it I had to have a sample on some toast. I don't know if it was all of the time put into it that made me biased or not, but I think it turned out really tasty!

While working with my daughter, we used her electric juicer. Angel Eyes, came in and asked why we didn't use the juicer on my Hoosier cabinet. It was a vintage model I picked up at a flea market, thinking it would go nicely on the antique cabinet. I had never planned to use it. She asked if she could try it out. I washed it up and let her have at it, and to tell the truth I liked using it better than the electric one.

Angel Eyes, fixed herself a couple of cups of juice, and offered to squeeze some for anyone else who wanted it.

The next day I decided to do another batch and used the old juicer for the entire recipe. It worked great. If you would like to try making a batch yourself, I'm including a link to the recipe here, at Pots and Pins, a food and quilting blog that I plan to peruse more closely after the holidays.

Christmas Parade

2011-12-12T22:08:00.004-06:00

I thought I would share a few pictures of the kids in the local Christmas parade. That's Scooter between Mary and Joseph. Thumper is playing the part of baby Jesus, being held by her aunt, playing Mary. Angel Eyes rode a little farther back on the float, and threw a big wad of candy to her Mimi who later shared some of it with her.

Sweet Cheeks and Dino had a float of their own, shared by their Momma,

and pulled by their daddy. Why yes, that is a lawn mower, he's using to pull it. Did I ever tell you we live in a thriving metropolis? I didn't think so...good thing, huh?

And yes, there were other floats, bands, a dance team, horses, and other interesting things, but I knew what you were really interested in seeing were my grandkids, right?

I'm Not Going to Burst Her Bubble

2011-12-08T21:43:00.004-06:00

This little six month old thinks she can read!

She looks at the picture, and then at the words, then she echos the sounds made as her great-grandmother reads to her.
Watching this was one of the funniest things I've seen. (She's checking to see if I'm watching her.)
I should have gotten out a video camera, but sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment and imprint the memory as best you can on your heart.
I am glad that I did at least get a few still shots to document a little bit.

Stocking in a Hurry

2011-12-05T13:46:00.003-06:00

My daughter was decorating for Christmas and a birthday party for her husband while we chatted on the phone. She said, "Oh, no, I just realized I have 5 children and only 4 stockings. Oh, it's okay, I'll make one later." and we moved right along in our conversation. I was trying to bring some sort of order to my sewing room after pulling my Christmas decorations out of a dormer closet while we talked.

Not twenty minutes after our conversation I found a stocking I cut out several years ago. I think my plan was to make matching ones as the babies came along, but I only finished the first one, and apparently cut out the second one, and that was as far as it got. So I sewed it up added a ruffle from a scrap of lace, added a few buttons and some crocheted pieces a friend gave me in a bag of left over fabric from her mother, and here it is. (Try not to notice that the leg of the stocking is narrow and the foot must have been traced from Sasquatch. Hmm, maybe that's why I never finished it.) Okay, I see you laughing, but then I'm giggling a bit too. Maybe I should just start over.

Two Ingredient Magic

2011-12-02T20:33:00.005-06:00

The longer I go without posting the harder it is for me to post. However, I found something post worthy last night. It is not my original idea, I've actually seen it more than once on other blogs, but just in case you've missed it I'm going to share a super simple recipe that entertains and taste good too. Actually, I'm not stealing anyone's thunder. I'm just going to give you a link and let you hop on over to Skip to My Lou and learn, like I did, how to make your own magic ice cream topping. Your kids will be impressed and you may even impress yourself. It just takes two ingredients and a microwave. How much easier does it get than that?

Gratitude Continued

2011-11-15T21:22:00.016-06:00

Moments of calm

Moments of chaos (the fun kind!)

Nature’s

endless
display
of

beauty
Generations of love

Silliness
Simplicity
Complexity

...and a loving Heavenly Father from whom all blessings flow.

One Word

2011-11-10T21:46:00.002-06:00

This little guy made my heart turn summersaults last Saturday when he said, "Mimi" for the first time! He's quite the little charmer! Sometimes it only takes one word to make your heart sing.

Vintage Finds- Weekend Bargains

2011-11-08T21:47:00.004-06:00

I hit a really good yard sale a couple of weeks ago, and scored some great buys. I knew when I looked at these plates that they were something nice, but I almost passed them by anyway. However, I just couldn't and besides they were $2 for all 10! I came home and looked them up online. I could only find one site that had a cup and saucer of the same pattern. It was listed at $80, so I'm thinking I got the deal of the day.

Another find at the same sale was this pretty little biscuit barrel for $1. I bought four pieces of fabric for 10 cents a piece, and two wall pockets at $8 for the two along with a few other small things. There were several other really good buys, so I really did practice self-control and not buy things just because they were bargains. I'm trying to decide if I should start an Etsy shop. I love the hunt of vintage bargains, but I don't want to end up on the Hoarders tv show. Anyone know how much record keeping for taxes and such is involved in an Etsy shop. I wonder if it would be worth the time it would take.

Harvest Time

2011-10-30T21:23:00.003-05:00

Every year

when I see this

it always reminds me of

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35"

and it remind me that it is time.......we must get busy! So many need us to share God's amazing love with them. So try to remember this week, it's harvest time.

Baby and Baby Quilt

2011-10-28T21:23:00.005-05:00

I have had this quilt made for a while, waiting for this special little boy. He is so cute! Just look at all of that hair! I finally got to meet him and wrap him in his gift and rock him for a little while.

He has two brothers who were very happy to introduce him to me, as were his parents of course. Such a sweet family.

I made the quilt on the serger with a pattern I found here. I omitted the ruffles of course. It was a really neat way to make a quilt and quilt it as you go.

I'm a Lucky Dog!!!

2011-10-24T21:28:00.005-05:00

Okay, I don't really believe in luck at all, but I was extremely fortunate enough to win Ruby Jean's giveaway for a $50.00 gift certificate to Precious Pastimes.

I choose two pieces with my gift certificate, and they both came in today! The packaging was so charming I almost didn't want to open them. Thankfully, my camera was in my purse so you can see what I mean.

Inside the package was darling too, but best of all the craftsmanship (Is there such a thing as craftswomanship? Oh, never mind.) of the pieces themselves is wonderful.

I am drawn to vintage things, and the incorporation of old typewriter keys is what I love most about these two pieces. If you like them as much as I do you should visit Precious Pastimes. Who knows you might find someone on your Christmas list something really special. There are so many different pieces. Go look around and see which one you like best.

If you like winning things as much as I do you should check out Ruby Jean's blog. It seems she's always giving something beautiful away.

She has an Etsy shop as well with the most amazing aprons, skirts, bags, and various other items that you just might want to add to your Christmas wish list. It is getting to be that time you know. Here is a sampling of just one of her darling aprons:

More Fall Sewing

2011-10-20T20:50:00.004-05:00

I finally got around to finishing these little outfits for the girls. I made Belle's earlier and wanted to get the rest of the girl's finished before autumn passed us by. The fabric is some I bought at least two years ago. The pattern for the dresses and for Belle's top came from the patterns in the book Little Girls Big Style The book has several different dresses, tops, and ruffled pants patterns.

I didn't make the pants by the pattern in the book because I had another pattern already cut out, so I used it. The book however was very easy to understand, and the instructions were very clear and easy to follow, with pictures of almost every step. I plan to make several more pieces from these patterns. I love that with a few pattern pieces you can make such a variety of outfits.

Angry Birds and Birthdays

2011-10-20T20:07:00.005-05:00

Spidey is our only October birthday, and we got together to celebrate.

His mom made the cutest Angry Birds cupcakes, and they tasted divine!

Spidey asked me the other day, "Mimi, can you believe I'm already six years old?" Of course, I can't! This roller-coaster of life seems to be picking up momentum with every second.

Aren't these angry critters just too cute?

It was Spidey and Angel Eyes who had to explain Angry Birds to me a while back. I was hooked for a time, but I have too much going on to play very often, so I have to steer clear of these diving feathered creatures. If you don't watch it they can steal your whole afternoon, and besides, it's okay to let one of these little ones win, but it's frustrating to be totally whipped in a game by your grand-children when you are really trying to win.

Weekends

2011-10-17T22:02:00.009-05:00

Weekends are for riding around the dirt paths, fishing, and playing in the dirt.

Weekends are perfect for finding dandelions and getting to make a wish,

...and for giving the fish a little love before you throw him back...

for coming back to Mimi's and playing with the train,

or pretending you are a lop-sided deer...

or just kicking back in a rocker on the porch.

Weekends are great for a lot of things, but mostly they are great for enjoying the love of family.

Southern Colors of Fall

2011-10-15T22:59:00.010-05:00

We don't have the vivid turning of leaves here, but nature still puts on a show in the south. Here are a few signs that the seasons are changing here.

While Daddy's Gone

2011-10-08T17:15:00.021-05:00

I spent a lot of this week with my daughter and her children while her husband was away in Honduras on a mission trip.

We picked up pecans, pockets full of them.

We fed chickens, and Dino chased chickens. "I chased the bok-boks!" he squealed over and over.

We played in the treehouse.

Stumped toes were kissed by Angel Eyes.

Some did a little swinging.

We played farm.

And beautiful bits of nature delighted us in unexpected places.

I tried to sneak in a moments rest whenever I could, but with five little ones around one doesn't do anything solitary.

Which is okay, because with so many around one is always surrounded by love.

Fall Sewing

2011-10-05T20:41:00.002-05:00

I have an outfit cut out for each of the girls for fall. Here is the first one I've finished. Is this a cute little model or what?

Fair Ribbons

2011-10-03T20:40:00.005-05:00

For Angel Eyes nothing quite measures up to winning blue ribbons at the fair. She thinks about it all year long and is always looking for a unusual craft to enter. This year she entered a log cabin her dad showed her how to make. The hard part was keeping it intact in a house with four younger siblings. Somehow it managed to survive, and we are all so glad it did.
She also won a blue ribbon for a woven potholder. As soon as she entered her items she came home and began planning for next year!
I must admit, I enjoy entering too. Now what can I can different next year? I'll bet Angel Eyes will help me think of something.

I don't have pictures, but my daughter-in-law won a ribbon for her red onion marmalade, and my daughter won ribbons in dill pickle, cinnamon roll, and photography categories.

Red-Work in Place

2011-09-30T20:44:00.004-05:00

I finally put the red-work his and hers pillowcases on my bed along with the set of redwork sheets that my mother did a few years back. My stitchery really reveals my lack of talent compared to hers, but I plan to keep at it, and maybe one day mine will be comparable.

If you click on the bottom picture it will enlarge and you will see the curtains Mom red-worked too.

You can't really see them that well but you get a feel for their element here. Red's been my favorite color for a long time, ever since I out grew that Donny Osmond purple phase in my teens. I've always loved redwork too. So in between sewing, painting, reading, kayaking, collage, and all of those other hobbies I don't have time to do justice to, I hope to do more embroidery, especially in shades of red.

Trip to the Fair

2011-09-29T19:36:00.013-05:00

One of the highlights of our year is taking the kids and grand kids to the fair. The grand kids look forward to it all year. I'm not so sure about their parents, but they are good sports anyway.

Angel Eyes always wants to make something to enter each year. So far she has won a ribbon

each year. This year she won two first place ribbons, and as soon as we got home from the fair she started trying to figure out what she can make for next year.

Belle's favorite thing about the fair is the animals.

Pooh was so sweet, even though he wasn't old enough to ride anything but the stroller.

Spidey, Scooter, and Sweet

Cheeks enjoyed it all.

Dino and Thumper were too small to ride so they didn't make it this year.

2011-09-25T22:07:00.004-05:00

The grand sons are outnumbered by the grand daughters five to three. So I wanted to post a little, little guy love today. I had new pictures of all three grandsons, but my point and shoot camera got dropped and somehow replaced the pictures I took of Spidey with pictures from 2007! No joke. The weird thing is those pictures have been deleted from my camera for four years. Now just how can that be? I haven't a clue, myself. I'll have to take some more pictures of my little Spiderman soon and post them.

Meanwhile here are the two other little guys. Dino here trying to fish with two poles at the same time. I'm sure he's seen his Gran attempt such a stunt somewhere along the way.

Here Pooh Bear, is enjoying a visit with the horses.

2011-09-23T18:51:00.002-05:00

Will somebody please turn off the lights?

Thank you!

Cute Little Tater Picker

2011-09-20T08:26:00.010-05:00

Sweet Cheeks is a true little farm girl. She loves helping in the garden or with the produce in the kitchen. She really enjoyed getting to help her parents pick sweet potatoes this weekend.

There's something about sinking toes into dirt that most kids just love, and this one is no exception!

Vintage Blues

2011-09-12T09:56:00.005-05:00

Aprons: It's been a craze for a while now, and I love it! I adore anything nostalgic that points back to a simpler time where for almost everyone home was the center from which life extended. Aprons seem to sing of that time. Just think of the emotions conjured up whenever you see an old apron. Some are instantly taken back to a moment of memory somewhere in their history that is grounded in home, if not your own at least one portrayed on tv. I know that everyone doesn't have those fond memories of childhood associated with Mom or Grand-mom in the kitchen and wonderful smells pouring forth, but at some point most have lived these moments vicariously through books or tv (Aunt Bea, from Andy Griffith, June Cleaver,... you know the list goes on and on). Aprons seem to bring those memories flooding back.

I collect vintage aprons because they speak to me like that. I don't have a proper place to display them. They hang from hooks and on cupboards around my kitchen, they are folded away, and mashed in a drawer here and there, but each time one pops into my line of vision I am once again flooded with memories.

I hope you have a wonderful Monday, and that seeing my little quartet of blue aprons has brought back to you at least one special moment of time. If it has I would love for you to share it in the comments below.

Favorite Things Friday, September 9th Edition

2011-09-08T23:52:00.006-05:00

One of my favorite things this week has been the amazing sunsets. After several days of rain the sun was beautiful to see, but the sunsets were gorgeous!

Have you ever tried to slow a sunset down? They happen so quickly, and no matter how you try to savor it and hang on it just keeps slipping until all at once it's over. Thankfully, we only have to wait another 24 hours until the next one.

Sunsets always remind me of God's love. If He paints the sky in such amazing hues everyday just to delight our hearts, how can we question His love for us? I know bad things happen, and we tend to focus on them, but have you ever stopped to count the beautiful, each one unique, sunsets in your life?

(Hit this button to see other people's favorite things.)

A New Love

2011-09-07T21:59:00.003-05:00

I was inspired by Amanda's post on her blog Simple and Creative Living to try my hand at making Lemon Curd. I've always wondered what it tasted like, I guess the name curd put me off. Amanda calls it Lemon Butter in her post. Doesn't that sound much more appealing? Anything with butter in the name sounds good to me!

I wanted to preserve some of the new creation so I did some research and found canning curd is a pretty controversial subject. I read loads of recipes and differing opinions on the subject and almost changed my mind. When I finally came across this post on the blog A Gardener's Table I decided I was safe and I would give it a try.

I'm so glad I did! My husband and I both fell in love with Lemon Curd aka Lemon Butter instantly! There was a little left over after that wouldn't fit in the last jar so I poured it in a goblet and placed it in the refrigerator. About three in the morning I heard a rumbling in the kitchen, rather than investigate I turned over and went back to sleep. The next morning the midnight prowler confessed. "I woke up in the middle of the night and all I could think about was that lemon stuff! Where did you put it?"

I told him and his reply was, "Oh, I couldn't find it and so I figured you ate it all. Will you show me where it is? That's all I' can't get it out of my mind until I taste it again!"

I gave him the rest of the left-overs and he devoured it.

A couple of nights later while watching t.v. he said, "I've got an idea! Let's open up one of your little lemon jars and have a snack!"

My guess is I didn't make enough of this. I'm thinking of planting a lemon tree!

Here is the recipe I finally decided on, found at Cheery Observations.

She adapted this recipe from the book Put ‘em Up!

Lemon Curd

Makes 3 cups

Ingredients

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1 cup lemon juice (from about 5 lemons)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 sticks of butter, cut into pieces

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon of salt

Directions

1. Combine all of the ingredients in the top of a double boiler.

2. Bring the water in the bottom pan to a low boil and whisk the mixture constantly until it thickens. This can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 25 minutes.

3. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve.

4. Ladle into jars and let cool. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Experimenting with Okra

2011-09-06T08:16:00.006-05:00

The okra is producing like gangbusters. I guess that old technique really did the trick! I've pickled some, frozen some, cooked some, and when I picked a bucket full the other day again I set it aside until I got caught up on a few other things. (Actually, I never get caught up, but I was attempting to get caught up.) I was bustling about trying to get the kitchen back in order after a late breakfast. There was still some pancake batter left. I hate wasting food, but I was about to throw it out and turned around to see that bucket full of okra staring at me.

Suddenly I was struck with an idea. What if I washed the okra and dipped it whole in the pancake batter and fried it? I washed several pods, got out the iron skillet and some oil and tried it.

I called to my husband who was in the other room to come and try this new concoction. At first he turned up his nose. "Pancake batter? Really?" was his comment, but when I assured him the batter wasn't sweet he consented to be the tester. "Hey, that's really good." He proclaimed as he reached for a bowl to fill for a snack.

So now I have a new way to cook okra. Do any of you have an okra recipe you'd like to share? I love it in gumbo, soups, fried, boiled with peas, but I'm always open to different ideas. Please, share if you will.

Finishing an Old Project

2011-09-06T08:02:00.004-05:00

I finished a simple project I started several years ago, at least 10, but it could be as many as 20 I'm not sure just when I laid them down. I found them recently when I cleaned out a back cabinet in my laundry room. I am so excited to have these little embroidered his and hers redwork pillowcases complete. The his pillowcase has been just lacking a few little stitches, and the hers has been untouched all of these many years.

When my mother had to have surgery and I knew I would be spending lots of time at the hospital, I decided to grab a hand project to take with me. I saw the pillowcase laying on top of a pile of unfinished projects so I grabbed it and a couple of skeins of red thread and stuffed them in my bag. I finished the pillowcase and came home to compare them. I

knew that there was a good possibility that the threads wouldn't match, and they probably don't exactly, but they are close enough for me as far as color goes. I laid them side by side and realized that I had done the his case with three strands and the hers with two. Oh, well, we are going to sleep on them I guess it's no big deal.

I'm planning to keep a simple embroidery project near for times when I just need a little something to keep my hands busy. It is such a soothing craft, and I enjoy having handmade things. My mother does beautiful embroidery. Maybe one day I'll do work as nicely as she does.

Gratitude

2011-09-02T21:15:00.004-05:00

I have been so negligent of my gratitude list. It's okay to remind me. I sometimes need that. Here is my list for today:

33 Mercy, oh how I’m thankful for mercy!

34 Memories

35 Wind, Isn’t wind refreshing sometimes?

36 Really good books

37 Beautiful music

38 Acceptance that comes with age

39 Freedom

40 Choices

41 Bread

42 Sweet unexpected words of appreciation

43 Sunsets

43 That changes can be made

Favorite Things Friday

2011-09-01T22:01:00.008-05:00

I'm joining Shay from Quilting in My Pajymas again this week for Favorite Things Friday.

Flowers are always a favorite of mine, especially the kinds that bloom all through out the summer.

Fall will soon be here and these pretty blooms will soon be history for this year, but they sure have been pretty while they lasted.

Have a great weekend and take a little time to linger a little while among the flowers.

Check out some of the other favorites by clicking on the button below.

Blue Monday Again

2011-09-01T21:12:00.005-05:00

Happy Labor Day, and happy Blue Monday. We are spending this holiday safe and dry inside since tropical storm Lee is camping out on top of us.

I am linking up with Ruby Jean for my Blue Monday. Don't miss her awesome post today.

I spent a little time with my parents recently while my mom was recovering from surgery. Both of my parents are really talented. My dad is an artist and my mom does beautiful hand embroidery. They both have many other talents as well, not the least of which is parenting.

While at their home I took some pictures of this storage building that my dad painted a few years ago. I love just walking through their yard and seeing this huge painting wrapped around this building.

I know it isn't entirely blue, but I think there's enough to make it count.

You can check out the other Blue Monday post by clicking the button below.

Yummy Cake

2011-08-31T22:03:00.004-05:00

If you haven't tried the Apple Cream Cheese Bundt Cake recipe that was pictured on the September issue of Southern Living, you should! It is marvelous!!! I couldn't wait to try it. It called my name the first time I sat down to look at the magazine. My mouth started watering and since I still had oodles of pears left I knew I could substitute them and make it right away.

I don't have a bundt pan anymore because I never could make a pound cake turn out right in it, so I got frustrated and gave it away. I now have a tube pan that works perfect for a pound cake every time, but it doesn't make this cake as pretty as the one pictured on the front of Southern Living. However, it didn't effect the taste. It was a great recipe that I will make again, probably pretty soon, since this one was history in two short days.

You can find the recipe here.

After the Whipping We're in a Pickle

2011-08-27T22:23:00.006-05:00

Many of you got a kick out of my post about whipping the okra found here. More than one friend has explained to me that the reason this works is that it puts the plant under stress and causes it to go into "fight for your life" mode. I've been told that it does work for other plants as well. Who knew? Surely not me!Well, after the okra decided to start living it's life to the fullest and producing I picked a bucket half full and pickled a batch. The recipe I used was very loosely based on the one by Alton Brown found here. Instead of rice vinegar I used white, instead of dried peppers I used fresh, and instead of fresh dill I used dry. This is a favorite with most of my g-kids. When they all are here at the same time we go through two jars at one meal. So yes, I did put up more than three jars.

My Blue Monday

2011-08-27T22:20:00.004-05:00

Linking up with Ruby Jean again for another Blue Monday. Washing and canning, that's what my Monday holds today.

Happily, there will be a little break at lunchtime that involves seafood and tasty dessert!

If you have time check out the other Blue Monday participants all listed on Ruby Jean's blog.

More With Pears and Peppers

2011-08-27T22:18:00.003-05:00

Saturday I worked some more on canning pepper jelly. I made a couple of batches and then decided to try my hand at making hot sauce. I couldn't find that much about it on line. There were loads of sites on pepper sauce, you know the kind where you heat up vinegar and spices and pour the hot vinegar over the peppers that you leave whole of sliced in the bottle. That wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to try my hand at a flavorful sauce to can. Although I didn't find exactly what I was looking for I did find a few hot sauce recipes that were not meant for canning. I looked them over and decided to just wing it. My sister-in-law from Georgia brought us this really great sauce made with hot peppers, sweet onions, and peaches. It is amazing! As a matter of fact I had to buy some more last time I visited her. I wanted to try something like that, a little fruity, a little hot and very flavorful.

I began by roasting the peppers, once again, a mix from the garden. I used jalapeno, small red peppers that I call tabasco peppers, I'm not sure what their real name is, and red and orange banana peppers. I chopped up onion and about half a head of garlic, I added some honey and balsamic vinegar, I roasted two pears peeled, quartered and cored. I did not let them fully roast, but heated them through a little bit. Then I added the juice of a lime and an orange and a little orange zest along with some salt and pepper. After I tasted the sauce I added more vinegar, white this time, and a little sugar. I didn't measure anything. I whirled it all together in the food processor for a while then I cooked it for 30-45 minutes.

It has a really nice flavor with a bit of a kick. I am surprised that it turned out so well since I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I poured the sauce in a couple of glass jars and a pretty little cruet and will store it in the refrigerator.

2011-08-27T21:58:00.004-05:00

A New Refreshment (for me at least)

2011-08-27T20:11:00.006-05:00

Ever since reading this post yesterday on the blog Well Preserved I've wanted to try cleaning my jelly jars with something fizzy. The writers of Well Preserved recommend cleaning the leftover jam from your jar by pouring some club soda in the jar, swishing it around, adding ice and drinking the remains. Of course, this meant I had to empty a jar and since I've been filling them this week instead of emptying them I thought it might just be a while before I got the chance to give this new idea a shot.

Today while making pepper jelly I poured my jelly into handled mason jars given to me by my mother. I did not realize that though the lids fit on top, the rings did not, so I had to empty those jars into others, and while this usually would have frustrated me, this time I was almost excited. I found some sparkling water hiding in the bottom of the pantry so I mixed it with the left over pepper jelly and squeezed in a little fresh lime and took a little tester sip. It was a very different taste, but I liked it. I like the combination of hot and sweet anyway, but I wasn't so sure I would appreciate that mixture in a drink. Now I'm wondering how a little jalapeno slice would be in lemonade? If you need a little something different to wet your whistle this week you might want to t give this odd concoction a try. Who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Butterfly Dance in the Pepper Patch

2011-08-27T00:30:00.009-05:00

Yesterday while picking peppers and okra in the garden, right after I took these pictures and put my camera away, the sweetest little butterfly came flittering around me and seemed to ask me to dance. She beckoned me with her gentle sways and tried her best to get me to join in the splendid ballet she was preforming so gracefully.

Sweet thing that she was, she had no idea how clumsy and unrhythmic I am. I went on with my pepper picking, and ant dodging and she with her twirling and soaring. I must admit that her performance made the sweltering hot chore so much more enjoyable, and soon it seemed as though even my spastic bending and rising, stooping then stretching, picking and plopping peppers into the bucket took on a rhythm that for a brief moment was interwoven with her genteel elegance and satisfied her enough that with one last pirouette she twirled and flew on her way.

I finished my chore with a smile thinking of how we sometimes see glimpses of God’s glory in His creation.

“Marvelous are our works,

And that my soul knows very well.”

Garden Lore

2011-08-25T21:53:00.007-05:00

If you live in the country or know many people that do you eventually hear all kinds of "old wives' tales" about any number of subjects. Sometimes there is a little truth hidden in them, and sometimes you just have to laugh at the absurdity of something the teller actually tells believing wholeheartedly that it is the truth. Sometimes they are so convinced that they somehow manage to convince you. I often wonder how these oddities came to be, where they started, and how they have lasted through many generations.

The thing that got me thinking along these lines happened a couple of weeks ago. The okra that got planted later in the season than normal hadn't bloomed. It was mid August and though it was very tall there was not a bloom nor a pod to be seen. My husband was commenting on this to a friend of his when the friend told him that he knew exactly what to do to remedy this situation. He told my husband to "take a switch to it." Not sure that he understood what his friend meant he asked for more clarity.

His friend explained again, "Go pick you a switch and whip the okra." How he kept a straight face I'll never know because when he came home to share this information with me I cracked up. That was one of the funniest things I've ever heard. I laughed off and on about it all evening. My husband laughed right along with me, but the next morning without saying a word to me or anyone else he slipped off to the garden and carried out the old timey prescription alone. Well, he thought he was alone. Our son pulled up as his father was in the middle of his unorthodox gardening procedure. With head cocked to one side he gingerly asked his generally sane father if he was alright.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he exclaimed a little sheepishly.

"Are you, (slight pause) whipping the okra?" our son ventured gently.

"Yes" came the reply.

"Why?"

Now at this point I must point out that our son works with his dad and I'm sure he was thinking along these lines, "if he's beating the okra first thing in the morning with a switch, just exactly what is the rest of this day going to hold?" but he didn't share those thoughts, he just waited patiently for his dad's reply.

Father told son what he had heard and how he figured it wouldn't hurt anything, and when asked by his friend he could honestly say he had indeed given the prescribed advise a try.

Well, Monday my husband came in the kitchen and casually announced that the okra pods were so big we were going to have to throw the first batch away. It seems they bloomed right away and got seriously busy producing a bumper crop! How's that for odd?

So my question for you is this: Have you ever in your life heard of such a thing as this, and if so can anyone offer any sort of logical explanation? Believe me I'm shaking my head like crazy over this one.

Full Time Canning Mode

2011-08-23T22:18:00.008-05:00

So here is the rundown of my last couple of days: Picking produce, washing produce, paring, coring, and dicing produce, even a little smashing produce, cooking produce, and canning produce. I've mainly been working with muscadines, scuppernongs, pears, and

peppers. I have picked a little okra, but so far haven't done anything else with it.

Funny how we keep changing as long as we live, and yet parts of us always stay the same. If you would have told me twenty years ago I would be all excited about canning produce I would have laughed you right out of town, but I'm really enjoying it! If you would have told me I would be eating pepper jelly, I would have brazenly scoffed, but it's really yummy, especially with cream cheese and crackers!

I tried making a combination pear/pepper jelly yesterday, and it is really good! See the little pieces of pear suspended in the top of the jelly? I'm including the recipe if you want to give it a try.

Pepper Pear Jelly

peppers - I used a mixture of jalapeno, red banana, and bell enough to make 2 1/2 cups cut roughly into 1 inch chunks

1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

3 pears, I used sand pears, peeled,

cored, and chopped into small pieces (mine were about 1/2 in. cubes)

5 cups sugar

6 0z Certo

In a food processor process pepper pieces with vinegar until you reach a fine, but not mushy consistency. (How's that for precise?)

Mix sugar and pears, then combine with peppers and vinegar.

Bring to a boil, and boil for about 5 minutes.

If you have a lot of foam on top of the jelly you can add 1/2 tsp of butter. (I didn't need to do this, but I do sometimes when making plain pepper jelly.)

Cool a couple of minutes and add Certo.

Pour or dip into sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace at the top.

Top with hot lids and rings, and process for 10 minutes in hot water bath.

Remove jars and let cool on a towel on the counter.

Check to make sure your jars sealed the next morning. If you have any that didn't seal refrigerate and use first.

My Blue Monday

2011-08-20T23:16:00.006-05:00

I'm linking up with Ruby Jean today for My Blue Monday. If you haven't visited her blog or her Etsy shop you really should! She has the most gorgeous, feminine skirts, aprons, bags, and more. Christmas is right around the corner and that would be a wonderful place to shop.

Now on to Blue Monday
Focusing on the color blue, these were the first things that came to mind.

Favorite Things Friday

2011-08-19T23:04:00.006-05:00

Of course it's no secret that my favorite things aren't things at all, but people. I'm crazy about my crazy family, each and every one of them. The family members over 21 are particularly choosey about the photos of themselves that appear on my blog, so since I don't have express permission on any of their current photos I'll share the ones of the younger set.

I marvel at the differences in these sweet little personalities. Each one has been created with such an individual diversity from the others. Each processes information in a different way, and expresses their thoughts differently. I often wonder what path each life will take, and how we as family can best equip each one for the things that lie ahead. I wonder what God has in store for them, and how each one will make a difference in the world. We seldom take the time to think about it, but we all do make a difference in one way or another.

I sometimes listen to the news and feel a little discouraged about the future, but when I look in these little faces, and remember the God we serve, my hope is renewed.

Canning Grape Juice

2011-08-17T07:41:00.002-05:00

A few years ago my husband and I bought the most amazing muscadine and scuppernong juice at arts and craft festival near Cade's Cove. It was wonderful in flavor and reported to be very beneficial to one's health. I always wanted to try and can some, but never had enough fruit to afford the opportunity until last week when some friends offered to let us come and pick from their arbor full of seven different species of grapes.

It was suffocatingly hot and I wasn't really excited about the outing to start with, even though I was greatly anticipating the enjoyment of the end product.

When we arrived I was amazed at the beauty of the arbor and the fruit heavily cascading from the canopy in every direction, and in a variety of hues. There were grapes of varying tones of green, gold, purple, violet, and some bordering on red. The sizes varied almost as much as the colors.

Some hung in clusters that you could pick by the handful, and others hung in singles.

Of course, we sampled as we picked and the taste and textures were as individual as the appearance of the fruit. An array of birds were none too happy at our carrying off a large bounty from what they obviously viewed as their private stock. Some put up a fuss, but thankfully that's all they did.

We came home with full tummies and high hopes for our own pantry to soon be stocked with purple or golden nectar.

We decided to just mix the varieties and see what happened.

After reading many sites on canning grape juice and realizing that there was several different ways to do it, using specific equipment like a steam juicer for many of them, I opted to try the two methods that didn't require special equipment since I did not have any. I was surprised that all of the methods I found called for sugar. I was hoping to stay away from that. I decided to use the least possible amount of sugar figuring that we could always add it later if it was needed. The first strategy I finally decided to try called for mashing the grapes, cooking them, squeezing them, straining them twice, heating the juice again adding sugar and making sure it melted, pouring the juice into sterilized jars and processing it. It was concentrated and will need to have water and a little more sweetener added to it when we open it. It was pretty labor intensive especially trying to squeeze the juice from the grapes manually using nothing but cheesecloth and a strainer. I'll be on the look out for a food mill before I try this again!

I also read about an old time, quick way of making juice by adding a cup and a third of clean grapes to a sterilized jar along with a third a cup of sugar, then pouring boiling water over the grapes and sugar and processing for twenty-five minutes. This seemed much too easy to be good, but I tried it just to see. We sampled a jar the next morning after cooling it down, then refrigerating it. It seemed a little on the sweet side to me, with a taste that wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked. I suspect that it will have a stronger grape taste when it sits a little longer. Using a pressure canner to infuse the grape flavor would have been a good idea. I may borrow one from a friend if I try this again, and I will definitely use less sugar.

Gifts Abounding

2011-08-15T00:01:00.010-05:00

I am so blessed with friends! Some I see quite often and others only occasionally. I have had friends that I've lost touch with over the years, that happens when we move, get busy with life, pursue different interest. Now with all of the technology available finding an old friend isn't as hard as it used to be.

I have been blessed to get reacquainted with a friend from my past over the internet and telephone in the last year. We still haven't seen each other, but that is coming soon.

This friend is very adventuresome and is able to travel and has done so extensively. Our lives have taken very different paths, but we still have much in common.

Well, this precious friend just returned from a trip to Guatemala and Costa Rica. She sent me the most wonderful packet of treasures! Look at these beautiful things! The zippered pouch is covered with lovely embroidery. The bracelet is handmade and the bookmark and worry dolls are precious! The gorgeous aprons are full of beautiful weavings, embroidery, fancy trims, and the sweetest little zippered pockets! And just look at the swatches of lovely woven fabrics! I think I might try and make a purse from those.

From what I understand women from different villages are identified by the aprons they wear. They are so pretty! I know my grand-daughters are going to really go ga-ga over the child's apron! I'm going to have to throw a party just so I can have occasion to wear/show off the red woman's apron. Won't it be perfect at Christmas time?

We also have a friend close by who has a tree loaded with pears, more than they can use, so they graciously offered some to us. Last year I put up tons of pear preserves. They are so good! This year since I still have plenty of the preserves I decided to make pear butter. I've worked on it for two days and just have a few jars to show for it. I love the stuff and so does a lot of my family, but it is a very long cooking process to get it right. Some of it I ended up not cooking long enough and it doesn't have the rich deep brown color with the equally rich taste that it should have. So far I only have 4 1/2 pints that turned out the way I like it. I think I'll just cook it down more as I open the other jars. That should work, I hope. It's not bad like it is, but it's not as rich in flavor as that that has slow cooked for 24 hours or more.

Anyway, I'm feeling wonderfully privileged to be so honored with gifts and most of all with friends.

This last picture is another lacy, little gift left on our porch by a visiter that I'm not sure I would call a friend.

Sweet Cousins and a Wise Old Owl

2011-08-13T08:32:00.005-05:00

Angel Eyes is such a girl after my own heart. She loves all of the things I do and is so excited to do anything that involves creating something new. How many 7 year olds would hang with you as long as you want in a fabric store ohhing and awwing right along with you?

She spent the night a few nights back, the first time in a long time, and right off the bat wanted to finish a sewing project we started back in February. I got her machine out, and we went to work at once. I was amazed at how her motor skills have improved and how well she actually did at keeping the fabric lined up. I helped her a little at guiding around the small areas and turning, but she really did a great job.

She couldn't wait to finish the owl softy and give it to her little cousin Pooh Bear. He loved it too. I couldn't get a picture that wasn't fuzzy of he and the owl because one of the two were moving.

This was Angel Eyes second sewing project and she has given away both of the things that she made. Her first project was a pillowcase for one of her little sisters.

She wanted to bake a cake, go swimming, paint, and sew some more, but we ran out of time and swimming was the only other thing on her list that we were able to do.

I helped by appliqueing the eyes, and I did part of the hand sewing where we enclosed the stuffing, but she caught on quick and wanted to finish the rest of the hand sewing herself. I think she did a nice job, and Pooh Bear thinks so too!

Favorite Things Friday

2011-07-29T18:12:00.005-05:00

I'm joining the Pyjama lady's linky party today to share one of my favorite things. I decided to share my little vintage elf collection, mainly because I already had pictures on my computer. However, I do love these little guys. They are so whimsical and just make me smile whenever I see them.

Southern Staple

2011-07-28T22:40:00.008-05:00

It was brought to my attention lately that pimento and cheese is mostly a southern dish. Oh, how I pity the rest of the world! You really don't know what you are missing! I wanted to include a recipe, but I don't measure anything, and I rarely make it the same way twice. I'm going to try to remember to measure everything next time, but I'm sure you can google it and find a suitable version.

Why?

2011-07-23T19:34:00.009-05:00

What is it that makes stuff speak to us? Why do some collect coins and others whimsical paintings? I don't know. It seems everything speaks to me. Kinda scary, huh? I collect so many different things for so many different reasons, and I can't even explain it all, not even to myself. I
have sentimental feelings about some things like little vintage planters. There used to be a little duck that sat in our bathroom on a shelf when I was growing up. Once my mom told me that she had bought it with the first money she earned herself. Well, ever since then little planters connect some way in my head with family, memories, and mine and my mother's childhood. So if you come to my home you will find them scattered throughout my house, if I'm not mistaken in every room. I just took a mental inventory, and yes, they are in every room.

I've been a little under the weather lately, and my husband made a trip to Atlanta with our son. They, along with Luci, visited some thrift, antique, and junk stores. (Hey we all have that addiction, what can I say?) Anyway, he brought me the sweetest sickness present. In one of the shops they went to he found three precious little planters.

I have to confess he called and told me he was bringing me a little gift and I figured he was pulling a prank of some sort, you know, buying something for himself and pretending that it was for me. I asked him on the phone what was it, a fishing rod or a gun? When he came in with three pretty little packages all wrapped up I kinda felt like a heel, but in my defense, you just never know with him. Aren't they cute?

Now here is another of my collections that has grown lately. Luci sent me three of these juicers in a Poor Mindy box. (It was loaded with all sorts of goodies, like vintage paper dolls for the kids and heirloom sewing patterns. Don't you wish you were Poor Mindy?)

I don't know what started me on the juicers. Sometimes something so basic and useful and reminiscent of a simpler time just makes me feel good.

These have been stashed away in various cupboards and cabinets and when I pulled them all out and put them together I was surprised to find that there are nine of them. I wouldn't be surprised if a few more show up later. Things tend to hide around here.

So what about you? What do you collect and why do you collect it?

Sewing and Sweet Dedication

2011-07-21T22:39:00.005-05:00

Sunday was a special day. My daughter and her husband had baby Thumper dedicated to the Lord in the morning service. Of course, in their hearts this dedication took place as soon as they knew they were expecting.

I wish I would have taken a picture of the whole family, but with five kids it's hard to get everyone together.

I've been having more fun with Laurie Wisbrun's fabric line Pooches and Pickups. I love the way these turned out. I can't wait to see them on a couple of my precious little grandsons. I'll try to get pictures with them wearing them, but I'm making no promises.

Toddler Camp

2011-07-19T21:43:00.010-05:00

While the big kids were at camp the little ones camped out at our house a couple of days. We called it Toddler Camp.

Baby Dino came in sporting his new summer hairdo. He looks so much older.

Sweet Cheeks was so mothering to Dino. He woke up one morning and didn't know where he was. He cried and she said, "Come here, Sweetie. Are you scared? Come here and let me hug you." He did, and then calmed right down. It was so precious!

I was amazed that as soon as she was the oldest child in the house, she stepped right into the role of big sister.

Quick P.J.s

2011-07-13T15:23:00.005-05:00

The girls are going to camp and needed new pajamas. We looked around and they saw several they liked, but Angel Eyes flattered me by saying, "Mimi, you could make us some! That would be really cool!" Obviously, she isn't aware that my sewing skills still leave much to be desired, and I'm so glad because it just makes my heart sing when they get so excited about anything I make especially for them.

I needed a simple pattern because I had two pair to make and not a lot of time to make them. I looked through my patterns and decided to use this sundress pattern to make the tops and just make a little pair of bloomers to go with them.

I had some vintage Daisy Kingdom fabric that has been

in my stash for years, and I have no idea where I obtained it.

Sewing for Boys, and a Bit of a Quilt

2011-07-01T23:11:00.006-05:00

Sewing for little girls is easy. There is so much to choose from, and no matter what your skill level you can find cute fabrics and patterns that make your efforts really rewarding. However, if you are a semi-beginner, like I would consider myself, it's really hard to try your hand at something for little boys.

When I saw this Laurie Wisbrun line for Robert Kaufman called Pooches & Pickups, I just knew I had to figure something I could pull off for my grandsons. This my first attempt. Isn't my little model adorable?

Such a charming little guy, and so funny and loving.

I've also been working on a quilt in little snatches of time when I should be cleaning house or cooking.
Here is a square from it. I can't wait to get it finished! I'm really not very good at sewing in small increments of time. Once I start on something I want to keep at it until it's finished. (This only goes for sewing, painting, or reading. Sadly things like housework I'm perfectly content to let slide.)

A Hairy Tale

2011-06-30T09:51:00.006-05:00

...and it's not even crazy hair day!

What you talkin' about Mimi?

A Few Spring Leftovers

2011-06-24T23:01:00.021-05:00

Before this turned into the hottest June I remember we got to get outside a little bit and soak up the sunshine.

A little gardening and yard work wasn't so bad.

It was nice just to enjoy being outside.

Ever since they moved to the country my daughter's children have been fascinated with the clothes line.

So they found a cooperative tree and set up their own.

Even little Dino had to try his hand at it.

They washed their doll clothes in a bucket and hung them out to dry.

I just love to see them use their imagination and creativity like that.

See our sad little scarecrow? My son-in-law affectionately refers to him as the garden pothead. I'm going to try to remember to bring something for a better face and head next time I visit them.

To My Dad

2011-06-19T07:27:00.005-05:00

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful, funny, adventuresome dad!

Some of my best memories with him include fishing trips. He tried to take each one of us at least once a year, but if we out-fished him we got dropped to the bottom of the list. (smile)

He also would take us on buying trips for his and Mom's antique store. These trips included antique auctions, miles of driving and singing to the top of our lungs, games of Beaver Cleaver ,(you may know this game as Punch Bug) and always a little speeding on the way home with him saying, "I'm ready to get home to your momma now!"

I also remember hopping in bed with he and my mom early in the morning and he would tell me stories. They were always better when he told them than when they were read from a book because he always changed them up just a little to keep me in suspense.

He took us as a family on trips to the beach or the bay on Sunday afternoons after church, vacations to visit our grandparents, and trips to look for just the right Christmas tree in the woods

I remember the example he set the times he stopped on the road to help strangers, sometimes giving rides to people hitch-hiking that looked a little scary to me as a child. I remember the times he and my brothers took Sunday dinner to a hermit who lived in a dilapidated house in the woods close to our house.

I know that many people grow up never knowing their dad, that is so hard for me to imagine. There are many dads today who don't have a clue the impact they have on the little ones God strategically placed in their care.

I am truly blessed with the most amazing parents! I am so very thankful to have been honored to grow up with them as my role models and heros. Of course, they sometimes had to make hard decisions that I didn't fully appreciate at the time, but now I understand and am so glad they loved me enough to make those hard decisions no matter how unpopular they were then.

I am also thankful that I had the freedom to really be a kid. I wasn't pushed to grow up too fast, but instead I had a long and very happy childhood.

Thanks Dad for being such a great dad! I love you even if you did say I throw like a girl!

In the Good Old Summertime

2011-06-14T21:33:00.021-05:00

It's too hot to bake, but that doesn't stop the creativity of my family, and the birthday celebrations.

All of us were enamored with this adorable Little Debbie birthday cake whipped up by my South Alabama sister-in-law!

My dear hubby was the chef for the day frying fish, hush puppies, squash, zuchinni, and dill pickles for us all. It was soo good. We all brought sides and celebrated another slew of birthdays.

There was lots of baby love going on. I'm so happy that my grandkids are getting to enjoy their great-grandparents! Not only are they great they are also great, if you know what I mean.

There was also a little water ballet preformed with tutu and all!

A little game of ball started up from the sidelines.

(The ball was already in the water when I took this shot.)

So many cousins to play with,

precious little monkeys hanging around...

siblings to comfort when feelings got hurt,

life jackets to hold up the little ones when all of our larger arms got tired,

and plenty of water to cool everyone down.

Believe it or not at the end of this particular day we all got a little too cool after the sun went down.

Another day filled with things to add to my gratitude list. Every memory being made is another gem to add to the string already so full. What beautiful treasures God has entrusted to me. There are days I feel bad, and times when I get down like every one else, but then there are days like today when I am surrounded by the happy faces of my family and I feel like the richest girl in the world.

Garden Hide n Seek

2011-06-07T20:53:00.008-05:00

I've had a wonderful time visiting Luci.

She has a beautiful yard with little surprises in every little corner, walking around I never knew what sort of little critter live or otherwise would greet me.

Here's a peek, let me know what you think.

Double Take

2011-06-05T17:14:00.009-05:00

I've really enjoyed spending time with my sister-in-law, Luci, and yes, it's the same sister-in-law that I mentioned in the previous post.

We always come up with some type of crazy fun when we get together. This time after a six hour shopping trip, in one store, where we tried on every dress available, we ended up buying the same dress on purpose. We decided to wear them to her church today. We got a few funny looks, and some people laughed outright, knowing from our mischievous grins that we did it for a reaction. Aren't we goofy?

Proverbs 17:22

²²A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Wedding Vows

2011-05-31T17:30:00.003-05:00

Weddings like births are new beginnings, a fresh start, and hope for the future.

My niece got married this weekend in a lovely service. As I listened to the minister I was inspired to be a better wife myself. I sort of revisited the vows I made and inwardly determined to do a better job of living up to them.

My sister-in-law, who just lost her husband, is a great example of living out her vows. As she cared for her precious husband in sickness she did so with such a sweet patience and dedicated determination. It is a beautiful thing to see love begin to bloom, but it is also beautiful to see love that endures to the end and beyond.

Finishing Up a Little Sewing

2011-05-23T22:30:00.004-05:00

I have finished a few sewing projects that have been in the works for a while. I usually start three projects before finishing one, not a habit that I recommend!

First off is a dress that I made for Scooter. It is from an old pattern that I have used several times. The dress can be worn with or without the pinafore. Scooter just loves this puppy print fabric, and Angel Eyes asked if I could make her one like it. The pattern is a single size one, so I doubt I'll be able to pull that off.

The next project I completed was a baby quilt for little Thumper. I quilted it on my mom's very nice machine. Hers is a new model Cadillac and mine, which I was perfectly content with until I sewed on hers, is a 30 year old VW. It still gets me where I need to go, but the ride is not nearly as luxurious.

The pattern I used was called "Just Can't Cut it". I wish I had put more contrast into it. It's a little too monochromatic for my taste, but my daughter loves it, and that makes me happy. I ended up making it a lap quilt size so she could use it longer. I hope Thumper likes pink as much as the other girls do!

The last project was a little bonnet for Thumper. It matches her quilt and is still a little too big. It won't be long until it fits her nicely though, and it still manages to keep the wind off of her ears.

Isn't she a doll?

Joy and Sorrow

2011-05-20T23:57:00.004-05:00

Things are constantly changing everywhere, we have especially experienced it here in the last several days. Our emotions have run the gamut as there have been several losses all around us, tornadoes and floods have affected those we love, and health issues, accidents, and death have also left their mark on our family and friends these last few weeks. So many people we love have experienced deep pain, and we too feel that pain for them as well as for ourselves. However, just as death has caused anguish, in the same span of time new life has brought great joy to our family.

We are so happy that we have another precious grand-daughter. I have decided to give her the blog name Thumper since she has an extra heartbeat. Of course this has given us quite a scare, but the cardiologist has assured us that this will rectify itself over the next six months. We are so thankful for the grace God has shown our family again! I am amazed over and over at how God created the human body with an incredible ability to heal its self in many situations! Of course, I know that His hand is in any healing whether it is through natural process of the body He created, or through medicine, or through a miraculous movement of His Spirit.

At this time when birth and death have overlapped in our family I'm reminded of the verse in Romans 12:15^"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."

Happy Mother's day

2011-05-08T07:44:00.002-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to the best Mom in the world! I can't believe the grace God showed by allowing me to be your child! You are an amazingly, incredible mother, always putting others first, sharing the love of God and inspiring those around you to be they best they can be. You have believed in me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and loved me, and I am truly honored to be your daughter!

Procrastination

2011-05-05T23:39:00.003-05:00

Okay, I'm coming to terms with the knowledge that I am a part-time blogger. I get so caught up living my life sometimes that I neglect to blog about it.

This time I really have been thinking about it, but can't put into words what I want to share so I've been doing what I'm really great at...procrastinating! I know, it's an ugly word, but I'm afraid it fits me well.

I went on an amazing mission trip to the Appalachian Mountains. There is so much I would like to share, but somehow it is just too much to express, either verbally or in writing. I took a journal and planned to write things each day, but in the evening when things quieted down I just couldn't express myself.

Hopefully soon the words will come and I can come back and share a little of the what I encountered and learned, but right now I still am processing it myself.

Yayyy for Spring and Being Out of Doors!

2011-04-13T18:39:00.019-05:00

Please, don't tell us we have to go inside! It's sooo nice out today!

It's spring and love is in the air,

but it can bring out a little of the stinker in some,

there are kids smiling,

flowers blooming,

and nature's beauty is just showing off everywhere!

Even the dirt is better this time of year!

Don't tell Baby Dino or his daddy, but that's a Barbie fishing pole!

We're even clowning around after the sun goes down.

What to do When Your Siblings Aren't Home

2011-04-12T23:08:00.007-05:00

Lonely? Can't find someone to play with?

Try this...

Picnic Wedding Shower

2011-04-05T20:27:00.033-05:00

My niece is getting married soon, and I wanted to give her a bridal shower to remember. And for as long as I can remember she has loved picnics, so what better theme than a picnic shower.

The sign they are holding says, "We're getting hitched." it doesn't really show up in the picture.

For you regular readers, no, I haven't figured out my new camera yet, but it's on my to do list, by the way where did I put that list? Never mind.

God blessed us with another beautiful evening which made this time all the more special. I love it when we actually have a spring. It doesn't always happen here. Sometimes we jump right straight from winter into summer.

Gingham was the fabric of the day, what else for a picnic? It is by far my favorite of all fabrics, and I would love to own bolts of it, wouldn't you?

See that really large pickle jar on the table? My mother used to fill it up with chocolate chip cookies at Christmas time. I mean full to the brim! They didn't last long once she gave us the green light for eating them. Remember, I had four brothers so I didn't finish off the jar alone, but I probably could have. They were delicious cookies! Especially when she would put peanuts in them!

The little gingham flowers on the branches were made like the ones my daughter-in-law made for my daughter's shower earlier this week. They were made from a tutorial found here, but be very careful if you try them. I have a big ugly blister where I burned myself with hot glue, OUCH!

When everyone began to arrive I began to get excited, and hungry! I told you we have excellent cooks in our family!

The happy bride and groom to be, aren't they cute? Yeah, I think so too!

Our family keeps growing, so much so that it would probably take a panoramic lens and a magician to get us all into one photograph. So we just divide and conquer. A little here..

and a little there, and there still are a few missing.

No my sister-in-law is not smoking, or giving the peace sign. Maybe she's impersonating Nixon. No, I guess not, it's only one hand. I'll ask her later.

Can you tell I love sweets? I didn't get any close ups of the real food, but I promise it was there: hamburgers, over the top mac and cheese, fried dill pickles, and potato salad.

That's in addition to all of the sweets you see here. There was supposed to be an appetizer too, but someone forgot to put it out. I won't call any names, and nobody else better rat me out either!

Dusk began to settle so we lit the lanterns and tried to create a little ambiance.

Then it was time for a little gift giving,

and a little swooning.

I won't bore you with each and every gift, but there was some good stuff there.

And these youngsters are the parents of the bride. Now be honest, they don't look old enough to have a daughter getting married now do they?