Settling into Christmas

It has been wonderful to finally have a little time to settle into the Christmas season. Friday was my quilting circle's Christmas luncheon. It was hosted by the president of the group at her lovely home in Powhatan. I took a picture of the beautiful view from her family room window. It over looks a lake. But once again I was duped by my camera so the picture can't be downloaded.  I'll have to try again next time.

Are these just the cutest?  These dolls are from knit designer Jean Greenhowe. Here is her website:www.jeangreenhowe.com
I have been working on a project "first" by this designer and have to say the instructions are very clear and well written. I will have to post my progress. So far the hardest part has been finding the right kind of yarn.


Today I watched one of my Christmas favorites, The Bishop's Wife. It has to be the original for me, staring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. I make no apologies for not even entertaining the idea of watching the remake. I totally admit to being very narrow minded about older being better. Yes, I will admit to a few exceptions but in my opinion the classics are the BEST!
Who even comes close to Cary Grant?  Brad Pitt? Please. I don't think so. And why oh why aren't women feminine today like Loretta Young? The fashion from that period is exceptional. I love the morals in the old movies. Why is morality considered old fashioned and out-of-date? OK, enough with the rant.
I have to be allowed a good rant every now and then.
Here is a clip from the movie:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swNVzH_2IRQ
Enjoy!

A Plea for Intercession

Please pray for Virginia Tech students, police and their families.

SIGHTS AND SMELLS OF CHRISTMAS

My life has been crazy this past week. My visit with family was wonderful. We enjoyed the local historical sites of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and Historic Williamsburg. I survived (barely); hosting my husband's office party, my birthday, and last but not least my wedding anniversery. Next week our youngest will be turning 13! No longer a little boy.
Too much to take in. I have been trying to keep my head above water and not get too sentimental and then a bit depressed. Life goes by way too fast. December is always a good check for me to remember what is really important in life. Not to get carried away with making everything perfect.
It is so easy for me to get caught up in making Christmas so big it becomes so little and then it is gone. One of the ways we celebrate this advent season in our home is with the reading of scripture and the lighting of the advent candle. Many nights we have to catch up for missing previous readings. We try to find balance by laughing at ourselves and calling it a family tradition to be behind.

Above are one of my favorite Christmas cookies. They are called Thumbprint Cookies in our home. Sometimes they are called Jewel Cookies.
Here is the recipe:
1 Cup plus 3 Tablespoons unbleached flour
1/3 Cup Succanat or regular sugar
1/2 Cup butter(softened)
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Mix sugar and softened butter, add yolk and vanilla. Mix in flour.
Dough will be a bit crumbly but gather in a ball working in the crumbs and wrap in saran wrap or foil and refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
When cold roll in 1 inch balls and make a shallow thumb print. Put raspberry preserves in the hole.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
They are yummy, buttery, goodness. The raspberry jam breaks up the sweet with it's tartness. These cookies will be a major contribution to weight I will be gaining. Seriously, I had a couple for breakfast this morning instead of the healthy smoothie I told myself I would make.

Here are Mr and Mrs Claus helping in my kitchen. How many times I have looked at them and wished I could make them come to life and help with the holiday baking and knitting.

But it is a silly fantasy for the reality is that I am way behind on my Christmas knitting.
Here is a scarf that as you can see I am not even close to finishing. It is a pattern featured on the cover of the Debbie Bliss winter magazine. It is in a basket weave pattern and I love it. The above picture doesn't do it justice. It has a wonderful texture and density that will make it perfect for cold weather which, by the way, has escaped us here in the south.

A personal ritual for this season is to spend time reading the  gospels. I head downstairs before everyone wakes up, plug in the tree lights and read. Reminding myself that God's goodness is in Jesus. "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men." God chose His Son, Jesus, to bring us peace-God's peace. Because of God's love manifest in Jesus I can come to God with my sins forgiven and have reconciliation with the God of the universe. God's goodwill never ends all because of the babe in the manger. The paradox of that never ceases to amaze me.
My prayer for all of you is for God's love to so envelop you as you enjoy the gift of this Christmas season.
GRACE BE UNTO YOU, AND PEACE, FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND FROM THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. PHIL. 1:2

Christmas Cake

I am gearing up for Christmas baking so my blogs will probably be a bit monotonous. We have my husband's office party to host, family visiting from out of state and as I mention in a previous post lots and lots of college kids on break. I am really praying in ernest for good sleep at night. I have been dealing with lack of sleep for several YEARS and am now taking magnesium to see if I can get some consistent shut-eye. Following cheeseslave's recent discussion on sleep issues and lack of magnesium has been very informative. I am looking toward natural alternatives since the traditional doctor's answer is sleeping pills.
The soaking of dried fruit in rum and port for the last two weeks is filling the kitchen with the aroma I associate with the kick-off of holiday baking. Every day I stir the big bowl of soaked fruit and fancy myself a character in a Dickens book. I know, we Americans over romanticize everything about Christmas. I will be putting the actual cake together next week in preparation for the holiday season. Who thought of lumping Thanksgiving so close to Christmas anyway? Somehow everything gets done but  I don't even want to think about the pounds I'll be gaining. I have made a deal with myself to be more diligent about taking our lazy beagle out for walks and me hitting the Nordic Track during this season. We shall see.

Here are the pumpkin and pecan pies I baked for Thanksgiving-speaking of loosing weight. I did make the pecan with less sugar and didn't use corn syrup. I used maple syrup instead.  It turned out really well. I plan on using this recipe again.

HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU? BE STRONG, VIGOROUS, AND VERY COURAGEOUS. BE NOT AFRAID, NEITHER BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. JOSHUA 1:9 (AMPLIFIED)

Fall Preparations

I stayed up late to finish some sewing and cleaning in anticipation of my quilting circle which is meeting here at my home Thursday. Yes, the fact that I am starting a couple days ahead of time should give you an indication of the condition of my home. Between helping my husband with some home improvement projects and projects of my own, housekeeping has really slid downhill.
My husband worked so hard on sanding the floor of our front porch I decided to make his favorite cookies, Molasses Crinkles.

Here is the recipe:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups unbleached white flour
1 to 2 tablespoons additional sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
Melt butter over low heat. Transfer to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Beat in molasses and 1 cup sugar. Beat the egg by itself in a small bowl first, then beat this into the molasses mixture.
Sift together the dry ingredients (except the additional sugar). Actually I never sift. Then add them to the wet mixture, stirring until well combined.
Use your hands to form 1 1/2 inch balls of dough. Place the additional 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar on a small plate, and roll each ball in the sugar before arranging on the cookie sheet. (This coating provides the crinkle factor).
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until firm to the touch but still gives a little. Cool on a rack.


In the spirit of fall  I planted a fig tree, camillia bush and transplanted a wisteria. I have many plans for the fig when it starts to yield. If it only knew. I need to get my raised beds winterized but am really needing to gear up for lots and lots of cooking and baking. I get so excited this time of year. My big girl will visit from college. My younger daughter will have many of her friends over who have also been away at college. I always want to keep everyone here with lots of food. Especially the boys. As long as I have food they will come.
HAVE NOT I COMMANDED YOU? BE STRONG, VIGOROUS, AND VERY COURAGEOUS. BE NOT AFRAID, NEITHER BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. JOSHUA 1:9 (AMPLIFIED)

Ramblings on the porch.

Last weekend of terribly cold weather has given way to more seasonal weather for us. I am writing this post while sitting in the sun on our screen porch. It is a nice 68 degrees. The weekend left it's mark though as we are all fighting colds. To help warm me up I made a pumpkin spice latte. I love making my own since I find the ready made ones are too sweet for me.  I tweeked a couple of recipes and came up with a nice pumpkiny, creamy, spice blend. Probably not a good thing to drink while on a diet but I justify it by it's comfort to my miserable cold symptoms.
Over our crazy blast-of-winter weekend I was able to tick another project off my list. This one has been on my to-do list for over a year. Here it is...

 

I like the autumn colors and when it is quilted it will make a nice topper for the Thanksgiving table. Thanksgiving~yikes, that time again. I need to start making my cooking list. This is when my mom's home going to Jesus is so pronounced. I think about her every day but it is during the holidays that I always have to choke down the tears because I miss us being in the kitchen together turning out a big festive dinner with all the trimmings. We were like well choreographed dancers in the kitchen together. Each knowing what to do and not even saying a whole lot. I think just being together, cooking good homemade food was our language.

With warm weather comes hanging laundry on the line. We aren't aloud to have clothes lines in the yard because of our development's covenants. Of course this gives me the challenge to do what I need for my family and still comply with these ridiculous rules, which by the way are being challenged by many residents. I love all the lovely clothesline pictures that are posted on the blogs I follow especially the ones from Great Britain with the stone walls and open meadows in the background.
Lately my quiet time has been focusing on Joshua. I am meditating on many of the scriptures in this book. Meditation on the Word is so good for me. I am reminded who I am and Who's I am.
HAVE NOT I COMMANDED YOU? BE STRONG, VIGOROUS, AND VERY COURAGEOUS. BE NOT AFRAID, NEITHER BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.
JOSHUA 1:9 (amplified )

Sewing

I love to sew. I used to sew all the time when my girls were little, but then they grew up and wanted clothes that were "cool". I guess I don't do "cool," so I stopped garment sewing except for an occasional confederate soldier or Luke Skywalker costume for my son. I turned to knitting and quilting as even my "baby" boy outgrew my projects. Recently I have rediscovered my love of sewing and yes, even though I can get ready-made clothes cheaper, I find deep satisfaction in creating my own well-made, China free garments. It is one of the many ways I have been adjusting my life to be less dependent on big box stores, which seem to be taking over the landscape of suburban and rural America.

I finished this blouse for myself and am very happy with the design. I find that the biggest battle with garment sewing is finding the right design for my body type. This pattern is perfect. It has fitting darts, which give it a nice nip in the waist, while allowing just the right amount of flair or ease in the hip and buttocks area.
The fabric was bought at a local quilting store, Quilter's Corner (quilterscornerva.com), and is from a line of fabric by Moda called "French General."

The brown line with dots actually runs along the salvage of the fabric and was too interesting to cut off, so I incorporated it in the blouse as an embellishment along the front plackets and pocket. Altogether, I am very pleased with the way it turned out and I think it will look good paired with jeans.
Here is the the pattern:

 Amy Butler Designs for Midwest Modern Sewing Patterns

This pattern, by the way, has several lengths from shirt to shirt waist dress as well as different length sleeves.
Blessings

Fall weekend in Lexington

My youngest daughter and I spent a beautiful weekend in Lexington for VMI's homecoming. Virginia Military Institute embodies the best of the south; tradition, tradition, tradition.

My daughter and her friend before the dance.

Homecoming parade

Statue of Stonewall Jackson. He was an instructor here. His teachings on discipline and military maneuvers are still taught at VMI today.

Blessings

Knitting

Today, I had the pleasure of teaching two little girls from our homeschool co-op how to knit. What a pleasure I take in passing on a hobby to a younger generation. I started knitting when I was in the fifth grade. I taught myself using a bright purple, acrylic yarn and gold metal needles (hey, it was the 70's) bought at our local grocery store. My grade school teacher, Miss Selman, gave us time each week to bring a hobby to work on in class. She was, in my eyes, the best teacher ever. She, in an indirect way, gave validation to my love of needlework by praising my attempts at making a baby doll blanket, holes and all.

Little hands at work.

Here is the poem my children memorized to aid in their learning of knitting:
Into the bunny hole
Run around the tree
Out of the bunny hole
Away runs he!

Here is my "baby" girl still knitting today at age eighteen. She is designing a scarf for herself.

Blessings

A Bit of Sewing and Tea

I've been working on some pillowcases for charity. You can read about it here.
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com
The local quilt shop I frequent is involved in this charity as well. The pillowcases are simple to make and add bright color to the recipients room. It is also a great way to dig in my stash and use up fabric that is taking up space.

I made mine with children in mind. A bit garish but fun.

 I have been dreaming about another one of my personal rituals- the making of and slow sipping of chai. I am like a chemist in his lab when it comes to brewing this spicy Indian concoction. I love playing with the wonderfully aromatic spices and the fresh slivers of ginger. For now this is the recipe I have settled on. I am sure it will receive many tweeks over the cool months ahead.
2 cups milk
1 cup water
1 1/2 Tablespoons loose Darjeeling
A 2 inch piece cinnamon stick, or there about, broken in half
9 green cardamon pods, slightly crushed in a mortar and pestle to open
7 whole cloves
A 1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and cut into chunks
6 black peppercorns
1 Tablespoon organic sucanat or honey
Combine the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and let steep 15 minutes. Then return to a boil, strain, and serve hot.
Makes 2 good servings
Blessings

GO TIGERS!

"My"  Detroit Tigers have made it to the ALCS against the Texas Rangers. Unfortunately they were rained out today...bummer. A good break though for my family as they don't have to hear my rantings. You see, I have just recently been told by my loving husband that I am horrible to watch baseball with. I agree. My pessimistic side comes out and I brace myself for a loss even before the first inning is over. I think I do this to try to trick myself into not being too disappointed. Of course it doesn't work. So for the next few days I will be bitting my nails down to the nibs and continuing to drive my husband crazy.

Go Justin Verlander!

On a much calmer note here is a picture of some Christmas gift bags I am making. They are a great way to dip into my button jar and use up some scraps as well!

Blessings

Today's post from Wimpy Girl

The humidity has finally broken and even though it is 83 degrees, there is a faint stirring of a cool wind. So, I decided the time was just right to get outside and plant the crepe myrtle tree and gardenia shrubs that have been patiently waiting in their pots. I wasn't outside more than an hour and I couldn't wait to get inside.  I kept telling myself, as my shirt filled with sweat (there just isn't a polite way to say it), just one more bush and you can go inside, shower, and work on that crochet project that is so close to being finished. I have always wanted to be a pioneer girl; buy some property, plant a huge vegetable garden to live on, a flock of sheep to spin, chickens to have an abundant supply of grass-fed eggs. Instead, I am in the burbs barely keeping my raised beds going. I'm a wimp!  I did finally get all my plantings in and quickly said a prayer over them. The rest is up to God's grace. Now for the fun part, I have been happily crocheting this project:

 The work on the needles is a knitted edging that, when finished, I will attach to the edge of the granny square afghan. The pattern is from this book: Knitting Loves Crochet by Candi Jensen. It has many garments as well as pillow projects that combine both knitting and crochet.
 Here is a picture of a  little sweater for pooch. I am thinking about making it for our beagle, Amelia, a.k.a Butters. How she ended up with that nickname will be explained in a special post when she shares how she was rescued, cold and sick, and ended up in our care.

Blessings

Personal Rituals

It's beginning to look as if the season to dust off my Miss Read book collection is here. I love these books! They take place in 1950s/60s Cotswold, England, and center around an old maid school teacher and the quirky villagers who make up her world. Aaah... one day I will actually visit my beloved Cotswolds but in the mean time, I will continue to read and re-read these cozy stories and dream. For some reason I have certain books that have to be read at specific times of the year. For instance, Agatha Christie, James Herriot, and M.C Beaton's Hamish MacBeth series are definite reads in the winter with a fire going and a homemade quilt tucked 'round. Jan Karon and Karen White books are just sooo southern they have to wait for the lazy summer afternoons on the front porch. I call it my "personal ritual,"the little something that I look forward to that makes me happy. It is just for me and the anticipation of it is oh so fun!  I think everyone has them. They are little things, usually very simple, and are good for the soul.

Unfinished Projects

The weatherman is calling for a 25 degree drop in temperatures this Friday! Could this possibly be the start of fall for us? Probably just a little teaser. Whatever the case just the suggestion of autumn weather gives me a much needed jolt to finish those projects I started in summer and sluggishly put aside. For starters I thought I would bind these quilts so we can use them to snuggle under. Not a very good picture. I seem to be on a learning curve these days. Trying to figure out blogging without my children's help at the same time getting acquainted with a new camera that seems to have the ability to do just about everything but cook dinner.

As much as I am looking forward to a nice long break from the sweltering heat there is a part of me that will miss the last remaining beauty of summer here in the south.  My garden will be sorely missed especially the Moonflower which never ceases to amaze me. Every evening it opens up to brighten the pitch black of night. Their fragrance is an association with childhood summers visiting relatives in the Indiana country. Even the hummingbirds can't seem to get enough as they hover to drink in the last bit of sweet nectar. 

Blessings

Rainy Days

Today was a dreary, rainy day. The kind of day that puts me in the mood for fall. So as a little teaser I did
 one of my favorite things, I put on a pot of tea, pulled my knitting out, and watched a classic British film. The movie I chose is titled Brief Encounter starring Trevor Howard. They don't make movies like this today. It honors marriage and fidelity. I've watched it many times over the years and it always makes me long for the days when movies exhibited people with true character.  Remember when the leading man had principles and put his lover above his own desires? I know those days don't exist anymore, but who says we can't bring them back?



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c0/BriefEncounter-TrainWindow.jpg

Welcome to my blog.

My daughter helped create this blog for me over a month ago. It has taken me this long to even come up with the nerve to post anything. I guess Ordinary Things kinda sums up my life. As a stay at home mom, who is getting ready for the upcoming homeschool year, I have been relishing these dog days of summer. It has been so incredibly hot here in the South. It's been a challenge to get outside and soak up some vitamin D. I think it fitting to start my blog with a picture of cantaloupe in my garden. They came up a few weeks ago as a surprise. The seed must have slipped in with the cucumbers. Is there nothing more ordinary than a melon growing? They are kinda homely little things but the flavor when they are ripe... incredible. I'm thinking cantaloupe lassies to sip on the front porch.