The 4 Bushel Farm

The Orchard, a Memoir

2012-01-26T06:13:00.025-05:00

My choice of reading material is non-fiction, historical accounts. Finding them in the first person narrative is a bonus. A memoir is a real treat. A woman's viewpoint and her actions as she lives through any given period intrigues me. So "The Orchard, a Memoir" left me with a lot to think about. For several days I tried to write a deserving review but still find my words lacking.

Betty Robertson Cramer found her mother's handwritten account of her years during the Great Depression which she later published as "The Orchard", a time period covering the first few years after her father's death. Adele Crockett Robertson took on the responsibility of the family homestead, including an orchard which had provided the principle income for the family. The onset of the Depression, however, made drastic changes in the running of the homestead. The bottom dropped out of the market price for apples.

We watch her grow as she hires labor and deals with the bank, buyers, poachers, and the largest threat of all, the weather. She never shirked a responsibility, making sure her employees were paid even when her finances were slim. From years of training under her father's instruction she knew what had to be done, from spraying the trees to running the machinery. She treated everyone fairly and earned the respect of her employees and her competitors. They admired her dedication and resourcefulness. By having her written word we see her thoughts, her worries, her finances. We follow as she copes with the relentless weather.

The Orchard is an easy read, offering a different insight into the hardships during the Depression. It reminds us to be thankful for today's luxuries while showing us how close we can be to the edge. Our economy is not safe. How quickly it can tumble and we may have to depend on the kindness of others. This book may not be a literary giant. It's more of a journal, showing the thoughts and reasoning for her actions.

The may be a few different lessons here, but one that I take from this book is "Whose dream are we saving?" If you choose to read it, (and I hope that you do) you'll understand.

This book has a permanent space on my shelf.

Go ahead, say it.....you told me so!

2012-01-23T17:18:00.004-05:00

I opened the jar of Fire Water to see if it was ready to sample, and promptly drained and disposed of the contents. The pleasant garlicky aroma from two weeks ago was displaced by an awful mixed/rotting/pungent smell, not resembling any of the veggies inside.

There's a cold traveling around the office......I'm thinking about making some garlic bread tonight ;)

Red and White

2012-01-22T07:06:00.000-05:00

I've always loved antique red and white quilts, which is what influenced my color choice for the Just Takes 2 quilt along. Luckily, yesterday MyStory of HiStory left a link in her comment that led me to a story of an amazing quilt show of hundreds of red and white quilts which I, sadly, missed :(

Red and white quilts have that "homemade" charm of a simpler time when fingers, knotted from years of hard work, pieced and quilted with love all these covers that we treasure today. Years ago I was fortunate enough to have found a full red and white quilt top and some blocks in a box at a church sale. I completed the quilt top, hand quilting a moderate design, and sold it. Ditto, the quilt blocks. I made a few small wall hangings from them. Unfortunately, I have no photos of the full quilt but here is a floral star block from the box that I finished as a wall hanging.

(The photo quality looks poor because it is a photo of an old photograph. My scanner is not currently hooked up.)

Some years ago I was fortunate enough to have been asked to handquilt this beautiful red and white schoolhouse raffle quilt for the Vermont Quilt Festival. It was pieced with beautiful red prints. Some lucky person won this :)

(Photo taken before the edge was bound.)

So my current project, the Just Takes 2 quilt along, is filling a void. When it is finished I will have my own red and white quilt ;)

Thank you, MyStory, for the link! I'm so glad to know that others have a high regard for some of my favorite of quilts. And it was nice to go back in time. I had forgotten about these!

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FNSI - 1/20/2012 - Fun with Just Takes 2 blocks

2012-01-21T07:42:00.000-05:00

Winter has been much milder than last year, and yesterday's weather reports had everyone anticipating the first significant snowfall to begin overnight. It was cold and clear. The perfect evening to stay snug at home and enjoy an evening of sewing.

Last weekend I joined the Just Takes 2 mystery quilt along, purchased, washed, and ironed my material, and generally, smiled all week. I cut the pieces for the first six blocks on Thursday. Rushing home from work on Friday evening, I was anxious to start sewing.

After a very quick supper I followed the instructions for each block, carefully sewing and pressing. I love that each one is different. It's not an assembly line procedure, sitting at my sewing machine and running dozens of the same pieces through the feed dog. In other words, very different from any quilt I've made in the past.

The lighting makes this pure white fabric look somewhat dingy!

I'll take photos with natural daylight next time...

With each completed block my smile grew larger. They are all various small sizes. This is going to be an interesting quilt! I decided to complete the second installment of blocks over this weekend so that I'll be caught up with the group. So check back here on Sunday night to see if I've kept my word ;)

And be sure to head over to Crafty Vegas Mom's blog to see what everyone from Friday Night Sew In has accomplished. Seeing all those lovely stitches is a dose of inspiration!

By the way, it's been snowing since sometime after midnight :)
Have a wonderful Saturday!

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Vintage Thingy Thursday - 1/19/2012

2012-01-19T05:15:00.001-05:00

I love the stories that belong to our vintage items, whether they be handed down from generation to generation or found in a secondhand store. Some items remain a mystery forever and some give all the clues as to their former life, such as the yearbook I came across a few weeks ago.

I love to thumb through older yearbooks to see the often melodious names from years gone by. You would travel far and wide to find a girl named Eudora these days and I haven't met a Clifford in four decades, although I'm sure there are some still around. New parents haven't ventured beyond the family honorables and the famous actor(ess) for ideas to christen their children. So I was amused with the various names in this high school yearbook from the late 1940s. But even more interesting was the back story that this book revealed. As I lifted it from the bin some papers and clippings started to fall from inside. I slid them back in so that I could read them later.

When I sat down with this yearbook at home, I discovered that the former owner had several clippings of the singer Julius LaRosa. Could she have known him and perhaps had a crush on him? Hmmmm. Then the little photo dropped onto the table. A wallet-sized photo of a young LaRosa in his naval uniform with a clearly written message and signature on the back.

It seems that they were good acquaintances, after all. His yearbook photo was signed to the owner complete with his phone number from that time. (Remember when phone numbers started with two alpha-digits, such as MUrray Hill 7-xxxx or TOwnsend 9-xxxx :) Even more amusing was his goal written at the end of his listing....to be a music teacher. I remember my hometown radio station playing the "Italian Hour" on Sunday afternoons, and Julius LaRosa songs were played every week. That wouldn't have happened if he went on to be a teacher.

I especially enjoy the poses of the young ladies in their photos in this book. The camerman captured each student's spirit and beauty. The hairstyles are soft and curly. The wishes "To a swell girl..." are sweet.

While it is a shame that this small treasure is far from its original home, I will enjoy and share it with others. I hope you enjoyed seeing it today!
Stop by at the Colorado Lady's blog for more postings of Vintage Thingy Thursday. Please join in the fun and share a vintage thingy of yours!

Now, how about a little music!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Not one, but two!

2012-01-16T19:52:00.001-05:00

One of my goals for 2012 was to join more online challenges. My lucky stars found two for me within the first two weeks of the new year :)

I stumbled upon the Simple Living Pledge and challenge on the Kanelstrand blog. For three weeks in February, participants will strive to live a simple life in a complicated world. There will be posts on various aspects of keeping your sanity in an ever complicated world, most certainly there will be something for everyone. A quiet mid-winter month should provide perfect timing for such an endeavour. Follow this link to Kanelstrand and wander through the crafty posts! Take the pledge, if you'd like to challenge yourself!

I also happened upon the Just Takes 2 quilt along. For everyone who has L.O.V.E.D. the great red and white quilts (or the blue and white, or the yellow and white, or...), Brenda and Gay have organized the perfect project. It's a mystery quilt with block patterns revealed each month. After all the blocks are made, the full quilt placement will be revealed. And all done in just two colors....sweet simplicity ;)

I'll be working on the Just Takes 2 quilt during Friday Night Sew Ins, of course! The sign up has been posted for January 20th. How about joining us for a cozy evening with a favorite project?

Have a wonderful evening!

Something completely different

2012-01-15T18:45:00.001-05:00

Here's a quick link to a live webcam inside a bear's den. The expectant female bear (Jewel) is hibernating. Black bear births occur in mid to late January. You may only see a lump of black fur breathing away during slumber and hear her deep breaths, but you may tune in to a scratching semi-awake bear.

The North American Bear Center website has amazing articles and facts about this mammal. Stroll around there and learn something new.

...and if you're really lucky, you may be "present" for the upcoming birth!

Books, books, and more books.....

2012-01-14T19:01:00.000-05:00

You can call me a bookworm or you can point out my hoarder tendencies......

.....but I was raised with a deep appreciation for books.

Over the years hundreds of books have passed through my front door, both incoming and outgoing. I aquire most of them at either very low- or no-cost. I borrow extensively through the public library. As a matter of fact, one of the first things I do upon any relocation is locate all the libraries around me and become a card-carrying patron. I still have my card from my library in another state even though it has long since expired. (I have plans for it in an upcoming project.)

Right now there are about 24 to 30 books in my living room, not including craft books. Of these 30 or so books, about half are permanent residents and the other half will be re-donated to Goodwill once I'm done with them. Wherever I go, there are always ones that catch my attention.

Recently I found this gem from the latter part of the last century. I brought back a flood of memories, and thoughts on energy in general. Just before this book was written I was in high school and working part-time. I graduated in '72 and worked full-time, paying my own way. In '76 I married, we bought a modest house, and thus began the homeowners' dilemmas. For what is usually known as the "best years of one's life", mine were played out against the background of an energy crisis,the ending of a major military struggle, NOW, the Son of Sam, Watergate, an (in)famous murder in my hometown (involving a prominent politcal family), and a few other incidentals. Don't get me wrong.....my teen years were personally great. But when it comes to energy saving and consumption, it still bothers me that we're no better now than we were back then, imho. While I was getting up before dawn to get in line at the gas station (odd-numbered days for my odd-numbered license plate), we were told that the technology existed to produce cars that would exceed 60mpg and that these would be in production by the end of the decade (by 1980.) So where are they? Oil prices went down and the pressure was off the car companies to increase efficiency. Instead, they went for aerodynamic design and wowed the masses with sleek, sexy looks. I often wonder how many gallons would have been saved if those 60mpg vehicles had come to fruition. Thirty-plus years of half the oil usage on the roads would have made a huge dent in our total consumption of a natural resource. But I've gotten off track.....

As a newlywed and newbie homeowner, I remember trying to save energy. We put a Crane cooker (wood and coal stove combo) into our little cape. We got used old-style wooden storm windows and hung them on our house, cutting down on drafts and increasing the warmth. We had a fantastic garden and a grape arbor. Mom taught me water-bath canning. And there was a plethora of do-it-yourself information out there for folks like us. It was the original return to "the old ways of our ancestors".....a combination of hippie commune and shade tree advice from grandfather, dad, or helpful older neighbor.

Mother Earth News was a leader in the movement to conserve. Even popular magazines recognized the need for low-cost home improvements. I remember seeing pop-in interior "shutters" or rigid insulation covered in fabric that would snuggly fit in a window to prevent heat loss. These articles were geared for the average homeowner who wanted maximum value for minimum outlay. So finding this book was a "validation" for me, as it were. I knew there were more simple things that I could do without a major retrofit here in my condo and later, wherever I may be. (You may recall my success last year, with putting up the shrinkwrap-type plastic on my sliding door and installation of the heavy-duty drape to cut back on draft and heat loss. I've repeated the application for this winter.)

It seems that nowadays we focus on what we can buy in order to $ave. Everything is pre-built, ready to install (or have installed by a contractor). There is a large consumer-driven culture, as opposed to the smaller one geared at those who want to put things together or use their skills (although I do find people with those inclinations over here.) Maybe I've just become immune to the sales hype, but I just think we need to use our noggin a little more and our wallet a little less ;) And maybe we should learn from the mistakes we've made over the years.....it's not too late.

There's a time and a place for everything, and this book has a place in my collection.

I'd like to share this photo with you. I've had this geranium for about twelve years. Each Winter I cut it back and each Spring I put it outside. It sits inside the sliding door with the shrinkwrap plastic. This year it has decided to honor me with a mid-winter bloom!

Here's hoping that you're all staying warm and cozy this weekend!

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Ahhhhh, she's home :)

2012-01-13T19:01:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes! Mom is home, and very tired. I'm still dashing back and forth and hope to have her settled in by tomorrow night with a well-stocked fridge and pantry.

I'm anxious to tell you about the upcoming challenge I've joined and also do a little show-and-tell from my last junkin' adventure, but I need daylight to take a decent photo for that.

There's a very bitter wind whipping outside so I'm snuggled up on the couch and I'm sure I'll be asleep early tonight. Exhaustion and relief make good sleep aids, along with a bowl of homemade stew courtesy of a friend :)

Stay warm, friends, and have a wonderful evening! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

Help requested

2012-01-09T21:08:00.000-05:00

It's been very hectic around here since my mother was admitted to the hospital last week. She went in with diverticulitis and was almost ready to be sent home but now has fallen and hit her head. On top of that, she now has an infection which she didn't have before so they're keeping her in a few extra days. Normally a sweet, gentle woman of 92, she is ready to cuss out the staff and just wants to go home. Would you mind helping by sending a prayer up for her speedy recovery?

I'll be back as soon as we can get her patched up.

Side note: While driving back and forth these past few evenings, I've enjoyed the beautiful bright moon. Tonight it was very lightly masked by feathery clouds. Of all the times not to have my camera!

Over the (grocery) counter

2012-01-04T20:44:00.000-05:00

There's some strange stuff in my fridge.....

Just before Christmas I stumbled on this recipe, and I don't even remember what link I clicked to get there! At that time a co-worker had graciously shared their headcold with all of us in the office and I was sporting a red, runny nose. I decided to skip the over-the-counter medicines and let Nature do what it does best. (I admit to enjoying the menthol of Vicks Vaporub to help sooth my tissue-blowing irritated nose ;) Within seven days my nose was back to normal....actually better than if I had taken any of the cold medicines.

I gathered up all the ingredients and mixed up a batch. Realizing that I was already well into the cold season and that the recommended 8 weeks of steeping wasn't feasible, I decided to let it brew for about 4 weeks. I would be able to start using it in late January. There are still plenty of colds that travel through classrooms for the next few months. Those parents in my office will be bringing in a few more surprises this winter, I'm sure!

So, here it sits about two weeks into development. I may strain a small amount each week into a clean cup to sample. Will it work? Durned if I know, but it can't be all bad for you. It's made with lots of good stuff!

Have you ever heard of a concoction like this? Ever tried one? The recipe is easy enough (although grating fresh horseradish is quite the experience!) Let me know if you try this, and I'll post an update now and then.

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A great start to the new year!

2012-01-03T21:00:00.000-05:00

Wow, I was so excited to hear that I won a copy of Wendy's new book, Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs! I have been reading her blog for a while and got to know her a bit better two years ago when I started making semi-drastic changes that saved energy and money. Wendy and her family are quite knowledgeable about what the good Earth can (and cannot!) provide for us, and how to make use of natural resources for daily living. And she's got a great sense of humor that makes her writing even more enjoyable :)

What a great way to start 2012!

2012, here and now

2012-01-02T05:45:00.033-05:00

Now that I've defined the direction I plan to take in this coming year, here is my short list of things I'd like to accomplish in that time. Which, you can see, is more like expanding what was begun in 2011.

Make this a heart-healthy year. My bicycling may be sidelined for this year :( but I can walk during lunch. Get back to the gym. Use the pool at the recreation center. Cook more whole meals at home. And experiment with foods new to me.

Where I joined Friday Night Sew In six times in 2011, I'll participate in all twelve this year. Not only is it a good way to get things done, it's great to see what everyone else is creating. I'll be merging this with finishing up the two quilts that were started last year, some advance Christmas craft preparation, and some online sewing challenges.

I want to re-learn French. After taking classes from 3rd through 9th grades in school, phrases come back to me during conversations. Strange how that would happen after all these years.... I think there's someone or something trying to catch my attention, n'est ce pas?

Read more. I have a wonderful literary "wish list" thanks to all the recommendations I've found online. Those terrific books you review are noted for reference.

I'm not going out for the gold, here. I won't be petitioning my homeowners' association to allow solar panel installation. But I'm always looking for ways to reduce energy usage and make life better, in general.

We'll see what 2012 brings! Wishing you a wonderful year :)

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A new day!

2012-01-01T06:07:00.001-05:00

I hope you are all feeling well this morning....not dragging and sluggish from over-indulgence last night ;)

I went to a dinner party with friends and returned home while the driving was still safe (because the serious party-goers were still partying....) It was satisfying to doze off to sleep with a full tummy and happy thoughts, knowing that I would feel good this morning. Because this morning is the start of our New Year. This is the day we use to chart our course for the next twelve months....or two weeks, depending on willpower ;)

Over the past week I thought hard and long about where my energies should go in 2012 and beyond. I could attempt to do anything I desired, short of learning to fly an airplane or travelling into outer space. I came up with two variations of a list. Today I would like to share the more general choices....the ones that are more like "guidelines". Tomorrow I will post a slightly different list of things I would like to accomplish. But here is my list of how I want to live my life in 2012.....

Adopt a lighter lifestyle. Use less, need less.

Help someone.

Treat all those I meet with respect and kindness.

Learn something new....and then something else....and something else.....

Give.

Those are the gerneral, overall points of how I want to proceed this year. Tomorrow I'll share my "other" list. See you then!

And if you partied a little too hard last night, you've got 12 months to shake it off. Have a wonderful Sunday!

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Best wishes in 2012!

2011-12-31T00:10:00.002-05:00

From my home to yours

Cheers!

May 2012 hold all the best for you!

2011 recap

2011-12-30T11:36:00.001-05:00

As I get ready to move forward into 2012, I did a quick scan of my 2011 posts to see what exactly I did this past year. In general, I was busy with business. I think my year was not as productive as I would have preferred, but there were many thinks that never get posted.

Here are a sampling of what I accomplished over the past 12 months:

Quilting -
Applique floral wreath quilt top (to be quilted soon! I promise)
Kaleidoscope quilt top (ditto)
Lap quilt completed and brought to quilt shop/for sale

Friday Night Sew In -
Participated six times (goal for 2012 is every month)

Green and Health related changes -
Decreased coffee comsumption/switched to roasted barley
Added barley as a major player in diet
Ditto kale
Experimented/added more "from scratch" recipes
Biking started out great but health issues sidelined me (hope to have this resolved this summer)

Reading -
America's Women
Pioneer Woman, High Heels to Tractor Wheels
A Year by the Sea
...and a few others I can't remember!

Knitting -
Finished my vest in time for the cooler weather

Survived the Hot, Hazy, Humid summer of 2011!
Hurricane Irene
The infamous Halloween Snowstorm

Family health issues kept me busy, but seem to be mending

Not nearly as much progress as I'd like to see, but ENOUGH of the looking back. It's time to plan for the future! I'll share those plans on Sunday :)

Right now I'm taking out one of those quilt tops and want to finish it this coming month.

AND....if you hear of any good on-line challenges, please let me know..... greenvtr[a]yahoo[dot]com

Best wishes for a wonderful New Year!

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America's Women, the book

2011-12-29T19:33:00.002-05:00

Knowing that I have a thirst to learn about the accomplishments and real-life experiences of women throughout history, a co-worker loaned me her copy of America's Women and two other books when I was on medical leave in 2009. I read through the two novels and was soon back at work, with this one book setting by my comfy loveseat....waiting. I read in spurts and couldn't nudge myself past the first few pages for two more months. However, when that thirst returned I was drawn right in to the fascinating history of our fore-mothers here in the United States (which is admittedly similar to the history of women worldwide. The details may differ but the struggles are the same.)

Gail Collins (author) put an incredible amount of detail in her book beginning with Virginia Dare, the first known female in the US colonies, and ending with our struggle of equal recognition for equal endeavors. I found myself reading about four pages at a sitting so that I could absorb the information! The names, dates, and places were so exact....so complete. It was like a full college course on the subject within the hardcovers.

It reviewed the Salem tragedies which I had studied before, but also went into new territory for me. I devoured the chapter detailing how some women taught young freed (former) slave girls, bucking the system that demanded that they were not to be educated. These brave women even had their schools and homes burned for their beliefs. They and their students chose not to buckle to pressure. Bravo!

I had previous read first hand accounts of women's experiences as nurses and enlisted personnel in WWII. Here I learned about how the government only created the womens' corps as appeasement and used them (mostly) to fill in desk jobs or to test airplanes before sending the machines into battle. (If the plane crashed, who was lost....?!)

I read throughout the summer and fall, sometimes sitting at the picnic table outside work at lunch while gleaning what I could from those passages and the mid-day sunshine. I may look for a copy to add to my permanent bookshelf. It's that good. And I highly recommend this book if you have the time and the resolve to learn about America's gutsy women.

More end of year financial stuff

2011-12-28T05:53:00.006-05:00

Several years ago I used to read financial/debt reduction/frugal living blogs. One of them had a terrific excel budget spreadsheet, which I downloaded. It wasn't anything fancy, just a basic worksheet where you would list your monthly income along with fixed and variable expenses. It could be continuously updated and was a great way to plan for my year. Finance for a Freelance Life offered it again for 2010 along with some other spreadsheets that look interesting.

I have tweaked this spreadsheet several times over the years, adding a breakdown of each catagory and linking cells to auto-fill. At the beginning of the year I can plug in my anticipated monthly income and known expenses, and guesstimate how much I need to set aside monthly for things like car repairs. I can plug in how much I'll put into savings (lol.) And on payday each month (yes, I get paid once each month! It's actually pretty easy to adapt to that), I check to see if I'm on track.

This year depleted the nice little savings account I had been building. A few thousand in brakes, rotor grinding, new tires, 60K mile service, and some other unexpected bills took the egg out of my nest. But the good news is that I had carefully built that nest and can start over again. I already have.

It's a little more work than just setting cash aside in envelopes, which I have done in my more distant past. But it is entirely worth it just to see your money grow as you become more disciplined in your spending/saving. It's comforting to know that the cash for property taxes will be sitting in an account because you've budgeted for it for all these months.

I travelled the internet looking through finance blogs and came up with some interesting sites offering spreadsheets. If you are interested, you may want to check this one....it's like working with the envelope system. Or this one from Microsoft. Or perhaps you already have a terrific system and can offer advice?

It's a good time to start planning for next year....let's make it a great one!

Yearly gift

2011-12-26T05:12:00.002-05:00

A few years ago I realized that my children would be "in the dark" as to my finances/taxes/insurance/etc should anything happen to me. And of course, if they have to step in to clean out my home and close my accounts, I want to make it as easy for them as possible. So one month while I was filing my bill statements, I decided to make a list for them.

I wrote down the contacts for my employer, insurances, and retirement so they could access anything that was due to me (them), and then listed any possible accounts that they would have to clean up and close. I typed up a form on the computer, leaving extra lines just in case. There are workbooks in stores and online for this, but my accounts wouldn't fill a book....I'm keeping it simple ;)

For a few years I was quite content that I had done a good thing. Until one day I realized that this information changes....! Each new job changes the contact information for 401Ks and possible employer-held life insurance. A move can be a change in homeowner's insurance policies or mortgages. I discovered that this list is not static. Even though it may stay the same for years, one year can bring big changes.

So now I try to revisit my list as the old year closes to update any changes that may have taken place. I can go confidently into the new year knowing that I've made an unpleasant job a little easier for my boys. And it's an easy way to review my own situation, to see what I need to improve. I've got peace of mind. And they've got a gift they don't need yet :)

This year I've put another "list" with it. I've put photos in one of those dollar-style "Mom's brag books" and written down the "history" of family-related objects so they'll know what has been in the family and any possible story relating to it. Because there will be no chance to ask questions later! In an ideal situation, when I'm rocking away in my ol' rocking chair surrounded by loved ones, I'll be giving away my treasures and describing how they came to end up in my possession. But for now I'll gamble on the cautious side and make sure everything's covered..... ;)

P.S. For those who have another adult who shares your finances, this should be much easier. If you are in an independent status right now, it might be something to explore as a way to review your financial situation. Another form of preparedness, if you will.

P.P.S. My sons have all been told that this list exists, and it's whereabouts. Since that's not high on their priorities right now, I have occassionally reminded them. I'm sure 1:3 should be good odds at remembering ;)

Wishing you peace and prosperity in the New Year!

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~ Season's Greetings ~

2011-12-23T05:17:00.001-05:00

May you enjoy a very Merry Christmas!

Peace on Earth

And goodwill towards all men.

Some interesting tidbits for holiday thoughts....

2011-12-20T15:18:00.000-05:00

I can't resist a weird headline.

I haven't had much time to scan the news on the internet lately but this wicked bad headcold has me wrapped in a lapquilt and jammies, catching up on the world. I was tickled to find the two following articles. You just can't make this stuff up!

They've found that your wonderful live Christmas tree may make you sick, or at least give you allergic reactions. The mold spores will release in the warmth of your home and bother anyone suseptible. I'm sure you can guess what the recommended solution would be....artificial. And if you don't want to go that route you can "wash" your live tree before bringing it inside and remove it as soon as possible once the holiday has passed. I just can't picture the Walton family washing their lovely real tree.....and I certainly hope you don't have this problem. And if you do, please know that you are not alone in that.

Along with being able to rent a designer fashion or purse through the internet, someone finally figured out that parents will jump at the chance to rent toys for their children (kinda like Netflix.) For a nominal monthly fee, you can browse through a selection of toys suitable for your child's age and development. And the provider states that the returned toys are thoroughly cleaned before you receive them so you won't be skeeved when the package arrives. Why couldn't I have dreamed up this one???

I hope you're enjoying wonderful time-honored traditions this holiday season!

Pssst....let's remember the reason for the season ;)

Coffee.......less

2011-12-07T22:29:00.004-05:00

It’s true. My total coffee intake for the past 9 days has been one cup. This came about in an odd way. You see, the day before Thanksgiving I went to a Nutritionist. But let me back up a bit…..

My family is prone to problems with both cholesterol and Type II diabetes and I’ve been somewhat laxidasical (sp?) about keeping my cholesterol numbers where they should be, but not so high as to warrant an alert from my doctor. (* Note: my “good” cholesterol number is extremely good and my triglycerides are great. It’s the Total and the “bad” that need fixing.) So I asked for a reference to a Nutritionist.

We had an excellent conversation and she answered as many of my questions as time allowed, never dismissing my queries. I asked about all the healthy “hints” we find on the internet. She was knowledgeable about them and explained why I should or should not believe each one. But the reason I immediately put my trust in her came about when I asked her to explain how these problems start in the human body, what is actually going on in there, and she did so in full. I am one of those people who need to understand the situation. Just telling me to put my foot on the clutch then move the shifter doesn’t work. I want to know what the clutch does. Once I know that, it all makes sense.

Anyway, she’s a believer that folks should follow a more vegetarian diet by eating more grains, legumes, and deeply colored veggies. I’ve already been eating quinoa and I love my morning oatmeal, but she explained the benefits of barley. Barley has a unique quality (from beta-glucan) of pulling some of the cholesterol from your digestive system with it as it passes through. There are several sites about this on the internet.

In my entire adult life I’ve eaten barley perhaps ten times, always in a soup. I didn’t know how it could be prepared. But I left that meeting, bought some dehulled barley (her preferred option because the hull optimizes the benefits), and found some recipes online. The first one I tried – Carrot Barley Stew – was a winner. I’ve made it twice and love the flavors. And it’s very satisfying. Next I’m even going to try using the grain as porridge.

But, stumbling around the ‘net I found that roasted barley has been used around the world to make a hot beverage similar to coffee. Postum (from roasted grains) was popular in the US and just stopped production a few years ago. I actually remember seeing the jar in the coffee aisle of the grocery stores. Those of you who have known me for a while know that I stopped brewing coffee last winter in my efforts to cut back on electrical usage. (There’s a post on that back here.) So my one or two cups of cold-brew and occasional cup from the quick stop were no big deal, but I was fascinated about this new revelation. Then I found this. I ordered some from online and I’ve been enjoying my cup of Kaffree Roma every morning. I even keep a small container in my desk at work. But wait….there’s more!

I’ve found instructions for roasting barley to grind for use in an automatic coffeemaker! And if that isn’t enough……there’s RoBarr, the creation of a very smart woman. Imagine! I can stop drinking coffee, a drink that is imported and has all those bad connotations, and switch to something from right here in the US. (Picture me doing a Happy Dance:)

So….I’ve switched out a lot of my diet with foods that are very nourishing and satisfying. I’ve learned a lot. And I’ve made another Small Change by reducing my consumption of coffee!

I’ll do the study and let you know in a few months what the effect is on my lab blood work.

* * Please talk to your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet. * *

On another note....we may see some snow mixed in with this rain by tomorrow morning……

Have a terrific Thursday!

Extended season

2011-11-28T18:41:00.000-05:00

The advantage to not shopping on the weekend after Thanksgiving is being able to enjoy a quiet walk on the beach, which I did on both Saturday and Sunday. While folks were rushing from store to store to build up points on their credit cards, I listened to the crunch of fine wet sand under my shoes.

The gulls were looking for food.

The remains of a horseshoe crab, looking so very prehistoric.

Barnacles holding several shells together.

This one reminded me of angel's wings.

There were only about 20 people along the entire beach. Two months earlier, I would have been weaving my way through beach blankets and toys.

In this section of the world we have been blessed with lovely weather which is about to change. Tomorrow's forecast brings rain, followed by colder temperatures. Perhaps I should find my coat now.....

button, button.....

2011-11-27T12:58:00.000-05:00

My vest is almost complete, having spent a few evenings knitting the neckband and seaming the sides. Progress was stalled for a few days while I hesitated over buttons. I narrowed it down to two choices....

these look like they were cut from a seashell...

and these classic vintage faux leather knots...

I'm leaning towards the knots, so I can use the other ones on something linen-y. The knots always remind me of those wool plaid blazers with the elbow patches.

I love Autumn wool plaids, capturing the rich colors of leaves, squash, and wine. I saw some beautiful plaids as I wandered through JCPenney last week. One skirt in particular caught my attention. It was a bias-cut maxi!!! I wore one very similar back in '75 and '76. It was a favorite of mine back then (sigh!)

I've been watching these for the past few weeks. This is the best display this little plant has ever had. Such a delight to open the drapes in the morning!

It's a gorgeous day, here, so I'm heading out to get my vitamin D.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Greetings!

2011-11-22T21:59:00.004-05:00

I'm thankful for having met ALL of YOU :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best wishes!

Joan

2011-11-22T05:00:00.003-05:00

Last week a friend had to have a procedure done by a specialist and would be under anesthesia for a bit. I drove her for the appointment and brought along a book to read in the waiting room. Actually, I brought an extra book in case this one didn't meet my expectations. However, I found that I couldn't put this one down and finished it at home that night. Those of you who have known me for a while may remember my posts about books on women who I admire (here, here, more here.) This turned out to be another book written by a woman with drive.

A Year by the Sea, Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman by Joan Anderson is a small book and a fairly quick read, but there much insight in it. She makes a physical separation from her husband of many years to find herself, spending a year at a family home by the shore. It takes a special woman to strike out on her own, not knowing what she'll find...or what she may be giving up. Digging deep into yourself can be a frightening thing. Joan made the most of her year, as should we all. I was inspired by this true story. This is the first time I've ever underlined sentences in a book, always having treated them with utmost respect. But there were two passages that spoke to me and I wanted to save those thoughts.

I recommend this for a quick wintery weekend read. If your library doesn't have it, ask them to borrow it for you. And let me know how you like it.

Have a great Tuesday, folks!

New digs

2011-11-21T04:46:00.002-05:00

We're still settling in at work. It's kind of exciting, with so many new things there.

These are some of our neighbors.

Here's a view of the late Autumn scenery surrounding us now. The colors are dull and rusty this year due to the hot-hot-hot Summer we had, but I don't mind looking at this while I'm out for my lunchtime walk :)

I'm wondering if I should bring in my snowshoes this winter ..... (* wink *)

A-hem.....

2011-11-19T07:44:00.000-05:00

It was my most interesting Friday Night Sew-In, producing this....

I should have trusted my instincts when the number of stitches picked up around the neckline made it pucker. The finished neckband was too tight so I ripped it out. So here's where the vest stands after blocking the pieces and stitching the shoulders together on FNSI....

Productive? Yes. There may not be a finished vest, but I am more confident in my instincts than I was yesterday morning ;)

I also hemmed two pair of pants that were purchased at the secondhand store almost three months ago.

Thank you, Heidi for hosting this month's FNSI! I soooo needed some warmer slacks for work!

I'll be stopping by to see what all this month's participants have created. Use this link to see some great works and inspirations, and have a great Saturday!

Friday Night Sew-In tonight!

2011-11-18T11:47:00.000-05:00

The other day I revisited some blogs in my bookmarks and found that tonight is scheduled for Friday Night Sew-In, the once-per-month evening dedicated to creativity hosted by Heidi. I've participated many times this year and eagerly signed up for tonight's party. After all, I've got some projects already begun.....

I found quite a few great knitting books this past summer at the secondhand stores. Last week I chose a pattern and some yarn to make a vest for myself (unlike the last few years where I knit gifts for everyone else ;)

It was relaxing to let my fingers fly over sections of patternless pieces, laughing at the thought of passing slipped stitches over and tracking k2, p3, k8, or RSS and t2r. Somewhat zen-like.

The three sections need to be blocked (tonight) so that I can assemble them and add the neckline garter edging tomorrow.

And tonight I will also be tackling this.......

I'm moving away from my more traditional color schemes to stretch my imagination :)

Have a great Friday!

Thank you to our Veterans

2011-11-11T06:26:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your service to our country.

1.3 miles

2011-11-10T20:19:00.000-05:00

.....is my new walking route. Our company relocated to a brand-spanking new building. The finishing touches are still being completed on our offices but we've moved in anyway. It's in a hilly area which means I'll be able to get quite a workout at lunch by completing the loop created by the way the road runs.

The move was exhausting and we're still getting caught up. Lots of extra hours at work but it was worth it! I'm certainly looking forward to the weekend.

Have a great Friday :)

If you're looking for it, it's out there on the web....somewhere!

2011-11-10T06:26:00.002-05:00

(Please note that this post is not intended to stir up a political debate. On this blog I do not discuss "politics", but that which revolves around it. That being said......)

Shame on CNBC.com.

I choose to be an informed citizen and am a bit of a news-hound. So I wanted to watch the debate last night but, having no television, found that the sponsoring station (CNBC) did not run a live feed on their free access website. Instead, they chose to show it on their premium site, CNBCPRO.com.

By contrast, earlier this year the PBS-sponsored debate was shown on the PBS website and the Washington Post-sponsored debate was shown on their site, both gratis.

Funny thing about the internet, though. I was able to watch the debate without paying a premium.....on a European website ;)

Catching up

2011-10-29T20:48:00.000-04:00

The least few days were spent on a whirlwind road trip to northern New England. Along with seeing some friends and family, I had a few errands to complete. I brought my lap quilt to a shop where I once did hand quilting on consignment. I'm thrilled to reconnect with the creative folks there and look forward to working with them again.

I also sold some sports equipment that sat in my storage room but the money from the sale didn't sit in my pocket for very long. It was spent at my next stop, a secondhand shop where I found the car-mount bike rack that I had bookmarked on my laptop some time ago. This very slightly used model was priced at one-fifth the online price :-D (And, of course, I wouldn't have to pay for shipping.) his rack doesn't interfere with the rear wiper and has side straps to prevent sway and tipping. But my favorite perk is the great clamps. It installs in seconds instead of a half hour of adjusting and tightening the straps of my previous rack.

Thursday evening was beautiful, cool, and crisp. We went for a walk around the shopping area in town before a light dinner. It was so enjoyable to see the shop windows changed for autumn and all the lights on the streets. I haven't taken many photos lately and had forgotten about the delay before the picture actually snaps on my camera. I apologize for the fuzziness on this photo. I guess I'll have to go back to get a better shot ;)

I did discover that 5:00pm on a Friday is NOT the time to drive through Northampton, MA. On my ride home I wanted to find Webs, enticed by the billboard on I-91 for this huge yarn store. Unfortunately, it took 20 minutes to drive about 2 miles off exit 18 and I never found the store. (I has passed the street where I should have turned.) Fortunately, because traffic was moving so slowly I was able to see a lot of interesting shops. I'll be taking a trip back there some Saturday morning with comfortable walking shoes.

I stayed inside today. The October snowstorm started here before noon and I really don't need to go out for anything. The tree branches (still in full leaf) are covered with snow and heavily bent. The predictions of possible power outages from toppled branches are coming true, many folks are without electricity. I'm all set with plenty of easily accessible food. I've just taken this Apple Almond Ginger Cake from the oven. It smells won.der.ful!

(Note: This post was delayed. The power went out 4 hours ago, as I was typing. This end of the city was part of the 500,000 homes out of power in southern CT.)

Stay well!

Fast and Furious

2011-10-29T12:40:00.000-04:00

In just a short half hour....

......and the flakes have gotten larger since this photo was taken.

Photo courtesy of The Nor'easter. Stay inside and stay warm!

Happy Wednesday!

2011-10-26T19:31:00.000-04:00

There's plenty of cute stuff over at Bent Objects that will make you smile! Have fun :)

I'm heading north for a few days. I'll be back on Saturday with photos and stories.....

The beginning

2011-10-21T05:53:00.000-04:00

My camera is now fully charged, after missing many terrific pictures these past few weeks including a flock of geese flying overhead yesterday. I stop in my tracks whenever I hear a goose signalling the others and I wait until I can watch them pass by. Yesterday's flock was a moderate size, about 20 birds. The drop in the weather will soon bring larger groups. My camera and I are ready.

After an incredibly hot, humid summer the nights are now in the 40's and the days reach into the low 60's. My lunch break finds me taking advantage of those last few warm rays of sun, sitting outside the office. This past weekend I finally closed my bedroom window, and during Tuesday's rain no windows were left open at all. I have not even looked at the thermostat, yet.

Ah, Fall....are you ready? Have you found your sweaters and started layering clothing? Are the flower beds neatly cleaned for winter?

It's Friday, friends. The weekend is upon us. I hope yours is wonderful!

It's been a while, hasn't it?

2011-10-19T18:01:00.000-04:00

I just cleaned a two inch thick layer of dust on this keyboard. Really. Well, not quite ;)

I did miss each and evey one of you, whether you are a regular commenter, or just stop by now and then ;) And I did miss reading all your adventures when I couldn't log on. That was part of my ~~excuse~~ problem. My "new" laptop computer went into the shop twice...for a total of five weeks. The screen did some wonky things and went black. (~~~Withdrawal shudders.~~~)

And I've been busy.....

I am almost finished with my small lap quilt (or large wall hanging) which will be going to a quilt shop next week to be put up for sale. This one was created around some antique patches that were found in a secondhand store. It is now extensively hand-quilted, which I believed would be a fitting tribute to the patches and the woman who sewed them. As soon as I finish the binding I will post the completed photo.

Next on my UFO list is the kaleidoscope quilt made from vintage housedresses and aprons. This will be my first attempt at machine quilting, but I think it is a fitting project. It's simplicity deems a simple solution. I've got some time in November devoted to this.

Psssst, Cherie! I went to Brooklyn last month to visit my son and had a great time. It was a Saturday so we stopped at Smorgasburg and went to a few of the vintage mall/markets. Meeker Street is slated as a definite return visit. It's a good thing I can't tote a sewing machine home on the train ;) Mast Brothers Chocolate is yummy (especially the Stumptown Coffee bar), and Momofuku cookies are THE BEST! I'm planning a trip back there in early spring as a revival after the holidays but I'll schedule it so I can go to Brooklyn Flea this time....and I'm saving my pennies so I can splurge ;)

More to come! There's so much catching up to do...

I hope you've all had a great summer!

Crop yields and safety

2011-10-18T21:24:00.000-04:00

I heard an interesting tidbit on the news the other day. It appears that here in southern CT, the hot summer created a bad year for the acorn crop. I really should have noticed that because of the oak trees right near my deck. There are almost no acorns on the ground now, just the opposite of last year when I posted this.

But the next bit of information caught my attention. Due to the lack of acorns in the woods the deer population must find other food, mostly fresh grass. Here, the most convenient fresh grass for them is at the edge of the woods. Which is also on the edge of the highway.

Drivers, please be cautious.

funny, but I just can't think of a title for this post

2011-07-27T03:40:00.000-04:00

My apologies for becoming scarce here and for the lack of quality in my postings over the past few months. Life can sometimes pull the rug out from under you, so I will be taking an indefinite break from writing here to focus my energy where it is needed. I hope to return with a fresh mind when this is past me.

In the meantime I will be visiting my wonderful blogging friends, of course! I enjoy the humor, creative inspiration, and great tips from all your blog posts.

A heartfelt "Thank you!" for all the warmth you've brought to this little site. Enjoy the rest of the summer....or winter, depending on your location! When I return we'll have some catching up to do ;)

All my best!

And a good time was had by all!

2011-07-22T23:43:00.000-04:00

Depending on the weather report you listened to, our temperature was anywhere from 98 to 103 with a heat index of 117. Well, once it goes over 90 and is humid, it doesn't matter anymore....it's just plain hot.

So, were we foolish to drive a half hour to sit in a field of dried grass for a concert?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

We had a light supper and some icy cold bottles of water and created our own shade with umbrellas. By 7:00pm the sun sank beneath the tips of the trees. The opening band began at 7:30 and got everyone excited. They were great. And at ten past 8, the main act began....

The crowd was pumped! Even though only two original Spinners are still performing in the group, they gave the audience what they came for. In the 90 degree weather, with stage lights glaring on them, they danced and sang and joked. By the end of the second song their shirts were varying degrees of damp to soaking wet but they continued as if it were a spring day.

What a total surprise to take a look behind me to see how many people were sitting on the field and the hill, all the way up under the trees by the road. I couldn't even venture a guess.

As we started driving back, the thermometer on the car dash read 89 at 9:30pm. This craziness is supposed to break Sunday night and drop into the lower 80s. That sounds good right about now.

Have fun and stay cool, everyone!

Hot summer nights

2011-07-19T22:00:00.001-04:00

What happens when you type "free concerts, (your area)" into Google? I turned up a link to a great website for my county with a list that filled 4 printed pages. I've got free entertainment for the rest of the summer, whether I want to hear oldies, top 40 hits, blues, big band, or even watch Toy Story 3 ;)

On this hot, stuffy night I sat on the town green beneath large shade trees with a few hundred other folks. We listened to a talented group on the gazebo playing top 40 hits from the 60s through today. And the nicest part was that it was more comfortable sitting outside than it would have been inside. I'll be back here next week, when the scheduled group will play Frank Sinatra's songs.

Due to a once in a lifetime opportunity, I am opting out of the Friday Night Sew In for this month, although I'm sure I'll be sewing over the weekend. Instead of working with thread and fabric I'll be listening to that great group, The Spinners....outside...a few miles up the Merritt Parkway. My lawn chair is in the car....I'll pack up something for dining al fresco....and tap my foot to Rubberband Man.

I'm also getting anxious for a good bike trip. My short rides around here are just a tease and I'm looking for new sights. There are a few close enough to be a day's excursion. It may all come down to flipping a coin!

Summer is short, and we've got to get enough summertime fun to last through the winter. I hope you're finding lots of great things to do, too!

This is what I've been doing

2011-07-16T09:42:00.000-04:00

I haven't been typing here because I've spent a few evenings on this......

I am thrilled with the vintage "look" of this quilt top. The Kaleidoscope pattern is perfect for old fabric.

I'lll be stopping at JoAnn's today for a medium-toned green fabric which I'll use for a border strip and the binding.

These two together really have become my tribute to all our mothers and grandmothers, who worked hard to make their homes warm and friendly, and their families healthy and happy.

I've also been reading, biking, went blueberry picking again, and, oh, right,.....working ;)

Have a wonderful weekend! I hope yours is filled with sunshine and happiness :)

Pull up a beach chair and pour yourself a lemonade....

2011-07-10T07:11:00.002-04:00

......'cause I'll be sending out your book, Rosie! Your comment (#8) was chosen by the Random generator.

Please email me at greenvtr[at]yahoo[dot]com with your address. I'll have it in the mail tomorrow!

Thanks to all who responded!

Have a wonderful Sunday :)

equation

2011-07-09T17:03:00.000-04:00

0 red + 2 blue = Mmmmmmm!

I missed the strawberry season, what with work and storms and committments, but I am determined to have delicious berries in my freezer this winter for my oatmeal, yogurt, and smoothies. So after spending the day with Mom, I scooted up to the bestest PYO in my area and almost filled a tray with blues. The picking was so good, they were almost jumping into the basket. (Not to even mention the ones that made their way to my mouth.....I must have eaten my whole day's worth of fruit while I was there!)

There were quite a few families with little tots there today. They manage to fill a little pint basket or two before the children lose interest, but kudos to them for introducing their tots to farm fresh goodness.

Well, I hope to make it back there after work this week for one more good load, and some to share with Mom and friends. It's like having blue gold stored away.

I'll be sewing again this evening, and hope to post a photo on flickr to show the quilt top assembled sometime tomorrow. My mind is racing with a few other projects I'd like to start and I may be going to JoAnn fabrics sometime next week......

Speaking of tomorrow.....don't forget about my summer reading giveaway. Just enter a comment on my earlier post for a chance to win. The drawing will be tomorrow morning at 7:00am.

Happy weekend, all!

Good morning and good night :)

2011-07-08T22:43:00.000-04:00

My first steps outside in the morning are greeted by my lovely lilies. No matter what the day may bring, I start with a smile when these are seeing me off to work.

The pretty yellow daylily was separated from a clump at my son's house, which we had planted about 20 years ago. The Easter lilies were salvaged from the trash bin last year. They took hold when I planted them and established a good root system. This year they are putting on a glorious show for me.

I ended my day with some light sewing. I'm not rushing this but I did make good progress with assembly line stitching of the quilt blocks. It's a good way to relax after work.

I've been covering for a coworker who is on short-term medical leave so it's been kind of quiet at home. I'm somewhat spent by the time I pull in the driveway.

But the lilies are waiting to welcome me back :)

*****************

Don't forget to enter a comment on my previous post for a chance to win a great book for summer reading! The drawing is Sunday morning at 7:00am :)

Summer reading giveaway!

2011-07-06T06:33:00.000-04:00

The birds are chirping away in the trees outside my back door, happy as can be. The sun is already warming the air and preparing to give us another hot day. Summer is in full force. This week the temperature is hovering in the mid- to high-80's and threatening to touch 90 degrees, bringing the humidity along with it. How wonderful to slip outside during lunch and feel the warmth of the sun! Getting out of the office with a sack lunch and a book can do wonders to shake off the morning's rush of emails and emergencies. So how about a love story to take outside on your break, to transport you away from that phone and keyboard? How about a book written by a blogger? One that you probably "visit" now and then.

Last week I stumbled upon an advance proof of Pioneer Woman, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, second-hand. It is just the ticket for summer reading. It's the full story of how the P.W. met and married her cowboy, and has some won.der.ful recipes at the end of the book. If you'd like to carry this in your lunch bag (or beach bag!), please add a comment to this post. I will pick one commenter on Sunday morning at 7:00am (eastern time), and it will be in the mail asap!

Sewing

2011-07-04T21:57:00.021-04:00

I did some sewing this weekend, but not on the quilt.

This lovely but simple vintage full slip was an experiment with "altered" clothing.* It was a lot of fun to use lace from my huge collection (i.e.: stash.) There's even a section of the hand-tatted edging that I love.

I've taken a leap and posted it in my etsy shop. I hope someone wandering by will love it!

Note to self: Learn how to take better photos!

* This felt so different from my re-fashions of the past. This time I was creating for an unknown someone else!

2011-07-03T07:03:00.002-04:00

Happy Fourth of July!

Have a fun and safe holiday!

(Image found here.)

Triangles together

2011-07-02T13:25:00.004-04:00

Oh, happy day! A few hours this morning of piecing and pressing seams, and I'm caught up with the Kaleidoscope QAL. The cut blocks had been carefully set in place on my living room floor so that no two pieces of the same print touched corners. What looks like a random scrap pattern really took a little time and thought to create. I'm pleased with the progress.

This coming week, we all start putting the blocks together.

But, for the rest of the weekend....cookouts!

I hope you're having a wonderful time :)

A happy hippo :)

2011-07-02T06:42:00.000-04:00

I'm looking for a co-worker/friend/neighbor who might be starting to plan a family so that I can scoop up this cuddly hippo!

He looks so sweet that I may buy and giftwrap him so he's ready at the first hint of someone ready to start a family ;)

I know the gal who made this child-friendly toy. She doesn't live nearby so I rarely get to see her. This past spring she told me that she was about to open an etsy shop with the soft dolls that she has sold in her area. I was so happy for her and asked for her shop address. When I hopped over there I fell for this guy, as well as the other cuties that she puts so much love into creating. The details on her dolls make them so special!

Take a look at her other creations over here.

The family tree

2011-07-01T06:18:00.003-04:00

I love to see what Rob is up to. He's always got such creative ideas! Well, this morning's post was a tribute to the family tree, so to speak, by showing that homesteading has been in his family for generations.

An old photo from my family's album came to mind and I was able to find it pretty quickly (thank goodness I took the time to label them!)

Gardening and homesteading has been in my family for generations, too. This first photo is my grandfather, who had extensive gardens. The onions and green beans were doing pretty well!

And this is Mom and me. It looks like we had green beans with supper that night!

Ok, Rob, maybe it is hereditary! And this is why I've been missing my own little garden ;)

Have you "traced" your family strengths?

Have a great Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

Cutting done, and it was fun

2011-06-30T07:57:00.000-04:00

The u-pick strawberry farm nearby is down to their last berries and the picking was slim. Storms and committments kept me from getting back there to load up the freezer. Oh, I'll be thinking about those sweet red berries missing from my oatmeal this winter..... but I'm determined to load up on blueberries when those are ready. I may even take an afternoon off from work to make sure I've got a supply on hand :)

This week proved to be a bit busier than I had planned, so I JUST finished cutting the background blocks for the KQAL last night. I had washed and ironed the white material, so I set out to cut the strips and stacked them in rows of four, as suggested. Before I knew it, they were done! (With interruptions for dinner and phone calls!) Now I envy all those KQAL crafters who used store-bought fabric and zipped right through the cutting! Trying to get the most from odd-shaped aprons set me back on time, but I'd do it again if I had to. I'm happy with the scrappy look.

I'll be playing with the layout this weekend. It will be a challenge to make sure no identical pieces are placed side by side. My living room floor will be my "design wall" ;)

I'll be blog-hoppping tonight to catch up on everyone's KQAL progress and see what all my blogging friends have been doing this summer. Dashing to work now. Have a great day!

Fortifying

2011-06-25T19:00:00.000-04:00

Good nutrition is necessary to enjoy all the fun that summer has to offer. Eating right can keep you on the ball when that ball is heading at you over the volleyball net ;)

I love to get energy (protein) from non-animal sources because those recipes can be so inventive. So when I saw Feasting Freds Red Lentil Daal with Peas I knew that I would have to try it. A lentil recipe with turmeric, cumin, and chili paste.....and I have the red lentils in the cupboard.

It cooked up in less than a half hour. I didn't have the coconut milk so I probably missed out on another layer of flavor, but there were plenty of layers. And I don't usually keep rice on hand so I had it without. There are a few more servings in the pot so I'll pick up some tomorrow.....after the volleyball games and the horseshoes at the picnic. I'm ready!

Scrap Happy

2011-06-25T07:34:00.000-04:00

Last night I cut out the template for the Kaledoscope QAL and started cutting the pieces from my apron stash. I'm glad the pieces are fairly large. This is what I accomplished in one evening, and I'm not even halfway done.

Trying to get the most from odd shaped pieces of fabric has slowed down my progress, but I'm loving that these aprons will get a second life. They were ones that had stains or rips and could only be salvaged as cutters. I have a few more to cut tonight and then I'll start on the background pieces. Those are from store-bought fabric so it will go much faster.

Getting excited... :)

Have a great Saturday!

Seen on etsy

2011-06-24T07:10:00.000-04:00

I love this dress pattern!

The details are so interesting!

This pattern, in a vintage size 10, is currently for sale by midvalecottage on etsy. Oh, if it were a few sizes larger..... :)

(Note: I have no connection to this seller. This is for informational purposes only.)

Have a great Friday!

The thrift score

2011-06-22T17:51:00.003-04:00

The one lesson of thrift shopping is that you never find what you're looking for on any given day. It's certainly not like going to Macys or JCPenneys to buy a pair of black trousers for work. Instead, you approach thrifting with an open mind and look for possibilities.

Which is why I couldn't find anything I liked that could be remade into some nice summer tops but came home with two small bags, anyway.

Along my drive to the store I told myself I would not even LOOK through the housewares and miscellaneous tables....and when I arrived I made quick work through the clothing, finding nothing. Tables are rotated regularly, meaning that they remove a few and replace them with "fresh" ones. They are constantly going through donations in the back room and bringing them onto the sales floor. So, in hopes of finding something useful, I decided to wait for new goods to appear. That's when I broke my resolution and started browsing through the miscellaneous......and stumbled upon a great stash of unused (factory-folded!) sewing patterns from the 1970s (my era!!!)

I couldn't believe that I had found so many unused patterns in one place and that no one had grabbed them before me! But that's the second lesson in thrift shopping.....you may get to the goods before someone else....or vice versa. The patterns were scattered through several bins so I worked like a reality-show contestant, flipping through them and tossing them in my basket. Only one gentleman realized what I was doing and pointed out more near him.

I'm sure I won't keep all of them. (I've sold bundles of patterns through Craigslist before and may do it again.) But some of these are just too good to be true. I still love some of those 70s styles.....

Neat stuff!

I love the old "Poet's" style blouses

Simplicity # 8402 would be a style wearable today :)

When they brought out more clothing bins, I found two dressy lightweight "toppers" to wear over sleeveless shells to work. Not really what I was looking for but not half bad for a Sunday ;)

P.S. I worked around my photo-posting problem by uploading through the Edit HTML tab with my fingers crossed. Where there's a will, there's definitely a way :)

No photos.....grr!

2011-06-22T06:46:00.000-04:00

It looks like Blogger has left me unable to upload photos into my posts. I've read from others with this problem and thanked my lucky stars that it didn't affect me.....until now.

I've got a few posts ready that rely heavily on the photos I've taken so please bear with me while I fumble through Blogger Help forums to get this resolved.

Hopefully, things will be back to normal in a day or two. In the meantime, I've washed and ironed all my material for the Kaleidescope QAL and I'm ready for the pattern to be posted. I also stumbled onto Hobo Quilts while in Barnes & Noble this past Sunday. It's based on the signs left by "hobos" to designate conditions of the road ahead....meal ahead, possible work for money, sheriff's house... The blocks are interesting, as are the quotes from folks who lived during the time, including some who travelled the roads and rails. Something akin to the Civil War blocks that are popular now, but not as detailed.

And I have a post ready - minus pictures :( about my purchase at the second hand store last Sunday. Ah, technology!

It's Wednesday! I hope yours is terrific :)

Berry season

2011-06-19T06:39:00.001-04:00

The U-pick strawberry fields were packed yesterday afternoon! As I walked in carrying my empty berry tray, dozens of folks were carrying full trays out. Imagine all the freezing and canning that will be going on :)

I opted to walk out to the field instead of taking the little trolley, and joined all the happy pickers. Each person, or family group, is given a designated row to pick. There were happy young children "helping" their parents on one side of me and a French speaking mother-daughter team on the other. Everyone was enjoying the sunshine.

I picked less than a quarter of the tray (about one-tenth of the row!) The day before we had torrential downpours which inevitably created very juicy berries. They had absorbed so much water that they would not freeze well, and freezing was my primary goal of the day.

But all is well that ends well, as they say, because I gave quart to my friend who drove me on the day of my exam, I had cereal with berries for dinner, and this morning I simmered the rest into a very lightly sweetened strawberry sauce that I'll use for french toast. I'll keep about a cup's worth in the fridge and put the rest in the freezer for later this year.

I'll be going back on Friday, weather permitting, to get enough for a canning session. I've made strawberry and strawberry-rhubarb jam in the past, but I'm itching to make that strawberry-balsamic-black pepper jam I heard so much about last year!

Today I'm heading out to the second-hand stores. I need a few summer tops and I'd like to find some fabric (used clothing) to use in making them. I hope you've got some fun plans for today!

Thank you! to all who stopped by yesterday to see my FNSI completion, and for all your very kind comments. The one thing I've learned from the internet is that we may be so different, but we are so much alike. Whether folks are reading this from the next US state or on the other side of the world, we all love to make beautiful things with our hands, we want to create a happier world, we want to share ideas, and we are concerned about the world that we are leaving to our children. I'm glad to have made new acquaintences and hope to meet many more new friends out there :)

Here it is! ....and more to come ;)

2011-06-18T04:29:00.001-04:00

It was a bit humid, but with a fan blowing across the room I was able to keep cool and put the last stitches in the applique floral wreath quilt top. It's only been hanging around since....oh, mid-January. For anyone who has not been by here before, the applique pieces are all from vintage aprons and housedresses that were not in very good condition. My goal was to make something of beauty from the utilitarian clothing that women wore while making a happy, healthy home for their loved ones. It will be a coverlet or lap quilt size, and I will be doing the hand-quilting this winter. Here are photos after tonight's Friday Night Sew-In.

I've been enjoying all the wonderful quilts made by fellow bloggers, especially the lovely treasures crafted by Impera Magna. So I followed her link to the Kaleidescope Quilt Along. It immediately caught my attention because (1) the block is simple and straight-forward, and (2) it is perfect for calico-type scraps (ie: my vintage aprons). So I'm officially jumping in with both feet. I've checked the yardage requirements and will be shopping for background and backing material this weekend. Here are the rest of my vintage aprons that I will be using.

And here's the exciting part....I will be machine quilting this one. Yes, the old die-hard hand-quilting traditionalist may give in and have at it with my old Bernina. So, keep watch here for more silk purses made from sow's ears ;)

Take a quick hop over to Heidi's blog and visit all the great folks who were crafting during this month's Friday Night Sew-In. You're sure to see some beautiful creations!

Thanks for stopping by!

All's well

2011-06-17T06:27:00.000-04:00

I napped on and off yesterday from the anesthesia. And contrary to how I felt at 6:00am, after the exam I really wasn't hungry. I made it through the day on tea, juice, and a scrambled egg with toast. I'm glad I went and I don't have to go back for 7 - 10 years, according to this paper they gave me.

I'm looking forward to finishing my applique wreath quilt top tonight during Friday Night Sew-In. It will be folded and put away to be quilted this winter. Stop by tomorrow to see the photos! And news about how I'm signing up for a quilt along that starts next week. I'm kinda excited about this one ;)

It's a rainy Friday here, and that feels pretty good. I hope you're having a great day.

Important stuff

2011-06-15T05:48:00.002-04:00

I may not be online Wednesday evening or most of Thursday. My doctor has persuaded me that it is time for an exam. The one where you have to drink gallons of icky stuff to clear out your insides. So, you know where I'll be.
Wish me luck.

Connecting

2011-06-14T04:54:00.005-04:00

I took a few well-earned vacation days last week and drove north (naturally ;) to visit my grandchildren. After a semi-rainy drive I had two beautiful days of excellent weather, not too hot and not too cool. And two evenings of Little League baseball games. My grandson (grandchild #3) got a hit in each game. This grandma was up and cheering :)

I also had the privilege of joining my granddaughter for the end of school barbeque lunch. There's nothing like a hundred or so young folks sitting on the grassy hill with hot dogs and watermelon on a sunny lunchtime to make you feel good about the world. Happy faces, laughter, and silly little jokes should be a mainstay in our daily lives.

Each of my grandchildren has their own skills and character traits. It is amazing that three brothers and a sister can be so different in some aspects. But so much alike in others. Watching them grow is fascinating. I get to see the little things that I overlooked as I was busy raising my own boys.

Anyway, as I was on my way, I stopped at an old friend's store where I had not been in almost 15 years. I did not expect to see the owner there, as she travels between there and another state on the West Coast. But she was there and recognized me instantly. She excused herself from a customer and came over to catch up. She asked if I was still interested in doing work on consignment. I have always enjoyed working for this sweet woman and would love to do so again for as long as my eyes will see the stitches :)

In all my moves, my life's ups and downs, my situations, I have carried around this package. It is her own design, made for me. It's time for me to finish it. I think you'll be seeing a lot of it in this next year. And hopefully, it will be entered in a juried show next summer.

I'll treasure it always.

I'm in

2011-06-12T08:41:00.000-04:00

I've signed up for the next Friday Night Sew-In. After missing the May event, I've been doing a little "quiet time" stitching on my floral medallion quilt top. The nine sections have been sew together and the bias trim "ribbon" is being appliqued. Saturday morning I will have the big "reveal" photo of the commpleted quilt top!

A few months ago I found this vintage bias trim, and was immediately taken to it. The informality of it begs to be applied to a young girl's playsuit or schooldress.

It was the inspiration for the bias trim "ribbon" on my quilt top. Since all the applique is from vintage aprons and housedresses, I used a checkered housedress to cut bias strips.

Be sure to stop by Crafty Vegas Mom's blog to sign up for this month's Sew-In.

Retro bonus points

2011-06-08T06:53:00.000-04:00

Airlines give bonus miles. Credit cards give points for every purchase. Some give cash back. But rewarding shopper loyalty can be traced back for quite a while. I remember being 8 years old and arranging little green or blue stamps in booklets, received for grocery purchases. After our weekly grocery shopping, we came home with a few bags of food and some stamps.

There was a catalog of products and their "point value" (how many filled booklets you would need) and a redemption outlet somewhere nearby where you could make your trade. I remember electric percolators and other basic kitchenware but I think there were folding lawn chairs among the choices. And these were quality goods....Sunbeam, GE, Black & Decker....when things were made to last ;)

During a thrifting trip this spring I found a stack of S&H Green Stamp booklets and couldn't resist looking through them. I was amazed that someone held onto them all these years. The operation has been gone for about 40 years and most likely won't be back. But they kept these in a box or drawer.

As I looked through them, another woman told me she remembered them. We talked about sticking all those stamps for our parents. She asked if they were now valuable. No, not monetarily. But they'd make fun labels or stickers on holiday gifts this year to my siblings who would get a smile at seeing them again. So I picked up a few. So did she.

A few weeks later I was surprised when a friend told me about a service station which still sported a large S&H sign on their storefront. I just had to get that picture.

Like the booklet says, "for life's extra pleasures" :)

How about you? Do you remember S&H green stamps? Or Triple S blue stamps?

Is it real?

2011-06-05T08:26:00.000-04:00

This was purchased at a tag sale yesterday, held at a local church. It was the first tag sale I have stopped at this year! My weekends have been that busy!

There were folks selling very nice clothing (used) at reasonable prices, children's toys, some furniture, and one gentleman who was setting up a booth of old bottles. (Read that as "Bright, shiny objects" ;) The booth was entirely old bottles, mostly small, medicinal bottles. He had a few old milk bottles from the home-delivery era. But this cereal milk bottle was placed in a spot that caught my eye and wouldn't let go. It almost jumped into my hand, try as I did to walk away from it. The vendor did not know where this one originated but it was in a cellar that was cleaned out, as were many of the other bottles on display. At the small price of $2, I caved.

So my question is......is this real? Or is this a recent creation, made to look like a vintage item? It is about 5 inches tall. (The imperfect glass and the dirt are a great touch....) I couldn't find it on a quick internet search. Have you seen these before? I'd appreciate any information.

And if it is fake (a modern decorative item), my $2 bottle will be a good "penny jar" :)

Keepers

2011-06-03T04:39:00.001-04:00

There are a few older dresses which have turned up in my travels that I have no desire to part with. They're too delicate to wear, and surely no museum would want them. They just bring a smile to my heart to see them, to inspect small details, to re-fold them, or to see them hanging in the closet.

This one I have often called the "Ultimate Lucy Dress", with it's flowing skirt, bold check, and perky appliqued bow. It's just begging for a redhead in flats to enter the living room from stage left.

This brings visions of a young girl in a black and white movie from the 40's, perhaps on a ranch. She has a crush on the handsome (and naive) cowhand, but can't get him to notice that she's growing up. He still thinks of her as a tomboy in bobby socks. Later in the movie she will be wearing a flattering debutante-style gown that brings him to his senses ;)

I can't quite put a date on this dress, but I think it's from the 1940's. It's a simple shirtwaist, and the color fascinates me. (Isn't that an incredible collar?) The fabric is so light, it feels like it would float away on a breeze. And there are tiny outlines of houses hidden in the print!

This gown is a recent find. The material is similar in feel to vintage dotted Swiss. It's so simple and feminine. I imagine it was worn with a heavy, long slip. (The slip in the photo is sheer and short.) I also think it was handmade.

The whole lot of them aren't worth the cost of a good dinner out, but their hidden "histories" are priceless :)

Hey, it's Friday! I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Peace.

You'll have to take my word for it :)

2011-06-02T09:06:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year when all these good foods are starting to show up in the market. Fresh food from the Earth. From fiddleheads and sorrel to ramps and rhubarb, there are lots of good eats out there.

This week I decided to stew up a few stalks of rhubarb, adding a little water and a pinch of sugar. After it had boiled a while but still had plenty of liquid remaining, I decided to separate the liquid from the solid. The pretty pink "juice" was intended for a Rhubarb lemonade and the solids were a test for a rhubarb smoothie.

The lemonade is very satisfying. Great for a hot, sticky day. And pretty, too :)

For breakfast, I made a smoothie with a half banana, approximately a half cup of Greek-style yogurt, and another half-cup of rhubarb "pulp". It was delicious! I need to thin it out next time, because it was really too thick to drink (I choose to use a spoon). But I didn't take any pictures because of a color issue. It wasn't an "appealing" shade of pinkish-tan-grey.

The taste, however, more than made up for the lack of rosy pink color :)

A small surprise

2011-05-31T07:13:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning I woke to find this "orphaned" tomato plant on my back deck. You may remember that this happened last year, too.....

My sweet neighbor is in her eighties, originally from a Latin American island, and speaks broken English. She sews and crochets, and knows that I do, too. She enjoyed gardening in her younger days. Each year her son stops by to plant tomatoes in a small space by the back fence for her to enjoy. Again this year she saved one of the plants for me. It was waiting on the deck in the cut-off milk carton, as usual ;)

One year I gave her branches from a rosemary plant I had, which she used as a hair rinse. I think I'll stop at the garden center this week to buy her a small rosemary seedling.....

I hope your week brings you pleasant surprises, too!

Something in the air

2011-05-29T17:15:00.000-04:00

Somewhere between the annual clean-out and that rule of removing one item for each item that comes into the house, I recently made a few trips to consignment stores, thrift shops, and the trash bin. Add to that over 200 sewing patterns given away on Freecycle and another bag currently on Craig's List, and I've sliced a serious dent in my stash.

One thing that can produce a whirlwind de-clutter is an old friend from out of state who calls to announce a visit. Evenings on the back deck, sipping wine and laughing, or walking through the park, or dining out, with someone who has known me for almost twenty years sure is a great start to the summer season! So I took a few days to get this place up to par. It didn't all get done in time. Yes, there were some things that were stuffed back into the storage room and I'm handling those now. (Thus, the patterns on Craig's List....) It's a good feeling to free up some space.

So, what has made the cut? What recent purchases are still here?

A sweet small "luggage" case needing some rust clean up and a new leather handle.

Something I've wanted FOR.EV.ER! A carry basket from a five and dime. I'm old enough to actually remember these ;)
This one needs some TLC, so I'll be starting a search for a similar canvas so I can dis-assemble this, clean the rust, and recover it.

A circa 1960's metal school desk. It was by the side of the road with a FREE sign on my last trip to VT :) It has been scrubbed but I've still got to put some Rustoleum on the feet. My portable machine is quite content to have it's own home instead of the kitchen table.

This older snap setter with all the pieces and instructions. I have new ones but there's something comforting about one that was used by a 1940's homemaker.

A perfect pair of Polly Preston shoes from the early 60's. They were worn so little that the printing inside the show still looks new. And they're a perfect fit!

And this......

but that's a story for another day ;)

Have a wonderful weekend. If you are here in the U.S., I hope you're enjoying a long holiday. (Please remember why we have this extra day off from work.)

Thank you to all who have served our country!

Out and about

2011-05-17T20:05:00.001-04:00

I've just returned from northern New England, having spent a very long weekend with friends and family. I could easily turn around and drive back today for another bunch of hugs from my grandchildren. I had a wonderful visit and miss them so much already! I have another trip planned in early June, so I'll be counting down the days :)

The bad news is that the continued rainfall in Vermont has done considerable damage which hasn't been in the spotlight of the national press. There are flooded homes, camps, and businesses along Lake Champlain and many of the state's rivers. The water in the foreground of this photo is covering a field. Those camps in the background are now in the water. Just outside the edge of the photo there are several propane tanks (large ones for heating the buildings), which were gathered as they had been floating in the water.

Much of the bikepath has been destroyed and is expected to be closed for the summer. With the damage to roads and homes, I'm sure the path will be low on the list to be repaired, and rightfully so. There are many roads destroyed by erosion, and some are still covered with water.

It has been raining since late April and it is expected to continue for the next week. I'm sending up a few prayers for sunshine and warm winds to help clear the water away, and hoping that the restoration is speedy for everyone affected by this.

Peeps-to-be

2011-05-17T20:03:00.001-04:00

I'm really getting excited about driving to work each morning. I am one of the first to arrive, and usually take the end space in the front row of the parking area, right next to a pretty little tree. ("Little" meaning: about 16 feet tall, or thereabouts.)

Anyway, the tree is filled with blossoms now

and something else.

When I got out of my car today a very protective Papa bird flew past me to a nest in this tree, where Mama was keeping some little eggs warm. I stayed far enough away so they wouldn't get upset.

I'll be keeping an eye on that nest for sights of little beaks soon :)

Nature is wonderful, isn't it?

Even-ing out equations

2011-05-10T07:20:00.000-04:00

I've been in my element, lately. My two wheels and I left a few miles behind us over the past few days, returning to a local bike path that goes through a wooded area. I saw Jack again, sitting in his pulpit

and the gals with their pretty red frocks

I had forgotten how this path is a slight upward incline for a few miles. Leg muscles get a good workout in the beginning. After the initial burn, it's a steady ride. It's perfect for unwinding after work, or for a short ride on a busy weekend evening.

I also made it to the gym a few mornings last week, which may sound devout and committed, but I have to admit that I ruined all that work with a really good New York-style bagel and cream cheese. (Not the soft, doughy type! A crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside bagel with a shmear of fresh cream cheese :)

And then there were the cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar.....

I will be back at the gym tomorrow morning....and yes, it was worth it ;)

Have a great Tuesday! I'll catch up with you later.

Mmmmm, yum!

2011-05-09T19:24:00.000-04:00

Here in the city, I don't have the excitement of foraging for my dinner. I can find dandelions, but with the canine and skunk population I choose to pass on wild greens.

And most anything around here has probably been subject to weed-and-feed products.

It's not a question of not knowing about what's edible and what's not.

It's about what has been done to those plants.

So...

My exotic foods come from the market.

And tonight I finally tried these!

Ramps!

Oh, my!

Why did I wait so long?

(Actually, these were given to me...)

They're very delicious when cooked like this...

Sauteed with cracked pepper and salt, and served with oven-"fried" sweet potatoes.

They're only available for a short time in the spring. I'll be looking for more this week.

Try something new! (And don't wait too long.....like I did!)

This weekend....

2011-05-06T06:15:00.004-04:00

In case we don't catch up before then.....

Happy Mother's Day!

Best wishes to all the Moms out there :)

First ride of the year

2011-05-05T05:09:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday was a glorious day. The sun rose early and the sky was clear. What better to do than ride along the shore with a friend? We arrived in Old Saybrook around 9am and stopped at the Paperback Cafe for a pre-ride blueberry scone. After all, your body needs a bit of "fuel" for energy, does it not? ;)

We took our time since my biking buddy had never been there and was taken by the shoreline and beautiful landscapes. We stopped to watch as folks were catching decent sized fish for dinner, and found a path leading to a scenic lookout. It was the kind of place where you could just sit and watch the boats all day....however we had a few miles to put under our wheels, so we rode on.

Everyone we passed was pleasant and we chatted for a bit with a few folks along the way. I suppose we all had that feeling of relief that the sunny weather was finally here :)

For the first ride of the season, 7 miles wasn't too bad. We chatted and stopped to sightsee more than seriously rode, but that's okay. There's a whole lot more riding to come!

My favorite time of year

2011-05-03T20:09:00.000-04:00

The spent blooms of the happy yellow daffodils stand back, now that they have heralded the arrival of Spring. Hyacinths have followed them, and tulips are now ready to pass. Everywhere, violets are spreading their pretty faces across lawns that will soon be mowed.

The forsythia came and went, echoing the bright sunshine of the daffodils. This week the lavender azeleas are shedding their petals.

The tulip trees have covered lawns and sidewalks with pink flowers, and cherry trees are now making a beautiful pinkish-purple view along the sides of the road.

This has been a spectacular Spring. I’ve been enjoying it more than any other, to my recent memory. I’ve been busy, but I’ve had my eyes open to the colors and shapes and rebirth of Nature. Eveywhere I’ve gone, I’ve seen beauty.

But the best is yet to come. Of all the Spring colors, two of my many favorites are the dogwood and the lilac. The first is just opening now, with it’s graceful arms and four-bracts of creamy white or precious pink. I’ve always loved the dogwood, most likely because my parents also did. My father (who worked in construction) brought home a dogwood tree dug from a wooded area that was being cleared. It thrived under my mother’s care (and natural “green” thumb), and gave a beautiful display every year.

When I was young, each Spring we would get lilacs branches from some friend or neighbor. Years later, I had several lilacs in my yard. I’ve always enjoyed that heavenly scent. The deeper the color of the flower and the greater the fragrance, the more I treasured it. I love the way the stems of the lilac bush would gracefully reach skyward, and sometimes an odd branch might twist itself around another.

I know that someday I will again be growing lilacs. And underneath them will be a patch of lily of the valley. Because you can never have too much of a good thing J

I hope you've been enjoying a wonderful Spring!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T14:15:00.003-04:00

We're finally catching up to our southern friends! There are pretty colors all around us. The spring flowering bulbs are blooming (tulips are showing buds!) and the trees are starting to leaf out.
This is probably my favorite time of year, watching the progression of color. The cherry trees are blossoming, and soon the lilacs and dogwoods will put on a glorious show. The garden centers are filled with pansies in bright yellow and purple. Small wildflowers have begun to peek through the ground.
Ah, renewal!

In Advance....

2011-04-22T06:46:00.000-04:00

Update on all the computer issues.....This week I purchased a new laptop and am happily connected with an internet provider. This new piece of technology is smooth and swift! I have to choose a new program to crop and finish my photos, and learn my way around the updated programs. It's going to be quite a learning experience :) Once I get it all sorted out, I have a few posts to get out there. But this weekend is dedicated to family time. I may hop around to a few blogs, though.

Sooooo, I'm wishing you a wonderful weekend, Happy Earth Day, and, however you choose to celebrate it....

Happy Easter!

Random-ness

2011-04-19T05:31:00.023-04:00

I love paint drips on old wooden stepladders. The ladder isn't new and flashy, it's older than me, and those paint splatters were dripped by someone who was making a room look fresh. Over ninety percent of the drips are some shade of white, so their room was sparkly and bright when it was completed. I'd rather have an old workhorse of a stepladder with all those drips than a new one.

A Saturday morning of scouting yard sales is fun, even if I don't buy anything. I'm not out to fill my car's trunk with stuff, I'm looking at treasured objects from the past. I've seen toys older than myself and listened to an old hand-crank record player. I've looked through boxes of dime-store jewellry and old tools. It's a peek at the past.

One of my favorite ways to celebrate the New Year is to wake early on January 1st and go cross country skiing with friends, followed by a country-style home cooked breakfast. I've missed the last few years since I've been living down here, but I hope to catch up with them on a first morning sometime soon. A bright, sunny morning spent outdoors with friends is a great way to start the year.

I grew up on Long Island Sound, which meets the Atlantic Ocean. In the summer the warm salt air would enter my bedroom window. Now, whenever I travel near the shoreline, I enjoy the salt water breeze as much as I do the sunshine.

I'm listening to the birds right now, as they call to each other in the early morning light. It's a sweet music. They're full of energy and communication at this time of day, as we hurry to get ready for work.

Enjoy the sights and sounds of your day :)

The view from up north

2011-04-17T20:26:00.002-04:00

Last weekend was a glorious weekend, and you'd surely agree if I said that it was too short. Over 600 miles in 2 days, with time for visiting family. Setting out in the car at 4:00am is so much easier in warmer weather than it was about a month ago. I find that I can easily drive before sunrise in the warmer months, even though the temperature should have nothing to do with it. Perhaps the chance of needing to stop makes me hesitant. Anyway, I made good time and arrived at my first destination for a coffee and a visit with my youngest son and his girlfriend.

When the coffee cups were empty I ventured on to a small, independently owned shop to see what was new and interesting. The owner is a great woman who has been in the consignment business for many years. Her prices are reasonable and I've bought quite a bit of my wardrobe from her over the years. I purchased one blouse for work and left after we finished chatting.

My grandchildren were getting ready to attend an Easter egg hunt when I arrived. They were each carrying the bag of their choice for gathering their goodies. I followed along and had fun watching all the age groups running around, scooping up plastic eggs filled with candies. How wonderful it is to see the world through a child's eyes, where all that is important is that Tootsie Roll or roll of Smartees in a plastic egg!

When every egg was found and emptied, we made our way back to their house and started Spring clean-up in the yard on a warm, sunny afternoon. The afternoon was completed by grilling our supper and eating outdoors. My first hot dogs of the season tasted so good, having been cooked on the grill and eaten on the patio!

I took a few minutes to snap some photos around the yard to remember that beautiful day. I hope you'll enjoy them.

snowdrops

inside the barn, taking advantage of the afternoon sun!

This structure has been here a long time, and will probably be here for quite a while longer!

The hayloft

The front step where the small milkbarn once stood. This rock has been worn smooth from many footsteps over the years.

Sunday morning I was on the road early, with just a few stops to fill the gas tank and get my coffee for the drive. I returned home with a bunch of hugs to hold me until next time.

* My bike comes along on the next trip. We're all planning a ride on the bike path, maybe with a picnic lunch ;)

I know this person is a gardener :)

2011-04-17T19:13:00.002-04:00

Hello, Wendy!

According to the Random generator, I've got some seeds and goats milk soap to send your way!

Congratulations!

Send me an email with your mailing address, and I'll get these out in tomorrow's mail :)

greenvtr [at] yahoo [dot] com

Thanks for commenting, and I hope we'll see the results of these seeds sometime this summer!

Thank you for two great years, everyone!

Applique quilt top update and Spring thoughts

2011-04-16T16:29:00.005-04:00

Friday Night Sew-In ended a bit sooner than planned. (My eyelids just couldn't stay open!) However, with the expected heavy rainfall tonight, I just might continue where I left off. That would be here.....

I started the corner blocks, which each have a small "bouquet" of flowers that match the wreath medallion. The entire quilt will have a "ribbon" that runs through the border with bows at each of the bouquets (if you can see it in the second photo, there is a pencil outline of the bow.) I haven't decided which apron to use for the ribbon and bows. When I get to that step I will cut a strip of each to compare it visually. I'm one of those make-do stitchers. I don't strictly follow the plans. It keeps life interesting ;)

Here's a quick picture for you of some flowers I walked past this morning. I love colorful little surprises!

Now I'm off to visit other stitchers to see what they accomplished last night. Here's the link if you'd like to see it, too.

Don't let the chance to win some garden seeds slip by! Check out my giveaway and add a comment to this post. The drawing is Sunday evening :)

In transition

2011-04-15T05:58:00.000-04:00

Greetings from Mini-land! For the first time in eons I feel like Gulliver in his travels. I am typing this on a little 9" netbook loaner while my 4 1/2 yr old laptop went in for diagnostics. The results aren't very good and it looks like I will be making a major purchase this weekend, but I'm looking forward to working with a normal-sized keyboard once again ;)

I have some great photos to share from last weekend, and of course tonight is FNSI! However, I can't upload anything on this loaner so please check back on Saturday evening or Sunday morning for my applique quilt progress. That's when I will be visiting all of you to see what wonderful things you've been working on!

And please remember to visit my earlier post to be entered in my Spring "Here's to Health!" giveaway! The drawing is on Sunday evening at 7:00pm.

Have a terrific Friday!

Never waste a rainy day!

2011-04-12T19:16:00.000-04:00

This week we're having those April showers that are sure to bring flowers in May (which is a good thing), and I probably won't be riding my bike in the next few days (which is a not-so-good thing). So after work today I took it to a bike shop a few towns over to have the front tire replaced. This tire has developed some sort of bump or bubble which is somewhat annoying when riding. For the last few months in 2010 I just ignored it, but I didn't want to face this season with a burr under my saddle.

I had never been to this particular shop before, and I expected to be put in queue with the rush of spring tune-ups. I was completely prepared to be sans bicyclette for a few days but to my surprise, the young gentleman who looked at it said he could replace it while I waited. Of course, while waiting I wandered around the shop and ogled every imaginable bike and accessory. Yes, if I was a wealthy soul I would buy all the clothes and car racks and indoor training mounts and.... Well, I wiped the drool from my chin before he brought out my trusty 3-speed. It's ready for the road now and so am I. As I settled my bill, my shiny blue Schwinn garnered some compliments from the (male) athletic-types who were waiting for their performance bikes. They even liked the old rack on the back fender ;)

There's nothing like a classic.

By the way, if you didn't see my previous post regarding a healthy giveaway, please check it out here! The drawing is on Sunday, April 17th at 7:00pm :)

Here's to health!

2011-04-12T06:33:00.000-04:00

You all must know me pretty well by now. Well enough to know that my interests are varied. I will spend an evening scouting the culinary blogs looking for a new slant on food. I may have spinach smoothies for breakfast for several days straight, then switch to baked oatmeal. I join online challenges that catch my interest. My hobbies range from vintage, crafts, weather, herbs and medicine, history, biking, to leaving a smaller ecological footprint. In celebration of my two years here, I hosted giveaways that reflected vintage, sewing, and crafts. This one is in celebration of the earth and nutrition. For your health and enjoyment, I am offering some varied certified organic seed packets. For a chance to plant these in your garden, please leave a comment on this post. I will choose one person at random on Sunday April 17th.

Bouquet Dill, Garden Sorrel, and Red Kuri Winter Squash

Try something different this year!

After you have finished playing in the dirt, you can clean up with Vermont Goat's Milk Soap from Elmore Mountain Farm. It's made with ingredients you can pronounce, and the Peppermint and Eucalyptus bar smells wonderful!

Whether you have a few planters on your patio or a large garden out back, if you can find room for a few herbs please enter a comment on this post for a chance to have these sent to you. The lucky gardener will be chosen on Sunday, April 17th at 7:00 pm :)

(Full disclosure: I have no association whatsoever with these companies. I am sharing some products with you that I find interesting and useful.)

And don't forget about this month's Friday Night Sew-In on April 15th! (Heidi has set up the post for sign-ups.) I haven't done much stitching this month so you know what I'll be doing for the next few nights ;)

I'll tell you all about my mini getaway tomorrow. I've still got to unpack and get settled in for the night. We're back to work tomorrow! I hope your weekend was as wonderful as mine was!

Blogger's got me again!

2011-04-11T18:19:00.003-04:00

Well, first Blogger stopped me from typing normal paragraphs (I had to enter posts in html). It looks like that has cleared up but now my posts are always not updating on blogrolls, so my previous post was missed. Seriously, I have to look into becoming a Wordpress convert.

If anyone has converted to Wordpress, and would like to help out a newbie, please email me at greenvtr (at) yahoo (dot) com. This old dog is still learning :)

Yay! It's Spring!

2011-04-08T19:17:00.009-04:00

I'll be on the road early tomorrow morning, but I wanted to share with you the reason I know it's really Spring. On my way out of work this evening I saw this.....

The first dandelion of the season :)

Wine, anyone?

Remember to check back on Monday for the much belated 4th giveaway for my 2nd blogiversary. I hope to bring back some goodies from up north!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Looking forward

2011-04-06T06:06:00.001-04:00

On April 5th, 2010, I was riding on the bike path. It was a sunny and warm day. I'm guessing that once this rainy spell passes, I'll be out there again :) I've brought my bike up from the basement and checked the tires. We're both ready to go!

I have decided to forgo my deck container garden in favor of supporting the local farmers markets. My deck is total sunshine reflected off light grey siding, which means the planters dry out too quickly while I'm away. Rather than go into details and excuses ;) I'll just opt for buying from the local farmers. I enjoy getting fresh produce at the market, and can buy just what I need for the week. Besides, their tomatoes are ready soooo much earlier than mine :)

My trip last weekend was postponed, and I'll be heading north this weekend, instead. It's going to be a whirlwind weekend, but I hope to stop at one of my favorite places. I've got my camera charged and my bag packed!

I've had a very busy month on etsy. I never realized how much is involved! It's hard to take decent photos if you don't have good natural light streaming through your windows!

It just occurred to me the other day that I'm on the last of the frozen berries from last summer. I had several large zip-style bags in the freezer, but now there's just one half bag of blueberries remaining from my pick-your-own trips to Jones Berry Farm. They taste soooo good with my morning oatmeal. And they remind me of what's ahead :)

Can you believe that we are already into April!?! Isn't it great ;)

Jaunty Jalopy

2011-04-05T19:29:00.009-04:00

I love old cars, so finding this photo tickled my funny bone. These folks remind me of the students in my previous post, a few years after graduation.

Reading

2011-04-01T17:50:00.008-04:00

I have two books sitting in my living room and one in my car. No, I don't read while driving, but I carry it with me in case I'm going to be in a waiting room or if I go to the park on a rainy lunch hour. These three books were all loaned to me by two different women....much earlier this year. For some unknown reason, the books just haven't caught my attention, but I'll keep trying.

There is a book that I have been reading. It was printed in 1939. It's a true story full of hopes and dreams. It's a book about finishing the old, and about new beginnings. It can be read frontwards or backwards, or opened to any page at all.

I don't know why I picked up this book. The high school is nowhere near me and I don't know any of these folks. Perhaps I just wanted to read all the signatures and sayings. Or look through the hairstyles that were popular in 1939. But I've thumbed through it a few times. I'm amazed at how friendly and courteous the students were to each other as they bade each other farewell. How nice it is to read "...a swell fellow..." as a compliment. Here are some of my favorites:

Lots of luck and don’t drink too many coca-colas

Voted Best Dresser. I say “Ditto”!

To the best______?

To a darn nice fellow.

Smooth Sailing

You certainly do dress the part

And the names are amazing. No baby is given any of these names anymore:Muriel, Gertrude, Blanche, Beatrice, Althea, Elsie, Herbert, Clifford, Roderick, or Edwin.

The young gentleman whose book this was, was on the Basketball team, Championship Intramural Swimming Team, Print Shop, Usher and Guard Service, P.S.A.L. Pins, Blue Cards. (I don’t know what all of these were, but he was busy!) The quote underneath says: “Strong and content I travel the open road.”

I can't help but wonder if these folks were truely prepared for what was to happen in the world once they left school, started families, or joined the military. Did they keep those happy, young students within them? How many went on to become successful business persons? How many went on to teach, maybe you or me?

There was one young woman who didn't get a chance to do that. On a page dedicated to her, I read about one of the happiest, most charming persons in the school. She was the third girl in the school ever to be elected to G.O. presidency.

"She revelled in the simplest things, in frankfurters for instance. Whether strolling past the counter in the five-and-ten, or stopping at a road-stand in the middle of a bus ride, El would order frankfurters.

In her grammer school days, she was pure tomboy, climbing trees and walking off with the best marble-players' marbles."

Those of you who have been with me for a while know that I love looking into the lives of folks from our past. Finding this book was a real treat for me. But, you already knew that, didn't you ;)

By the way, I'm typing this post in true html, adding in paragraph breaks and everything. Blogger is having some sort of problem, so this is my work-around. Cool beans, huh?! I guess you CAN teach an old dog new tricks ;)

Can anyone help with this Blogger issue?

2011-04-01T06:30:00.011-04:00

I've been typing up post after post, only to preview them and find that Blogger hasn't saved the paragraph spacing that I entered. When I try to correct this in Edit HTML, it changes the font size to 0, making everything after the first paragraph look like tiny dots. After I correct the font change, it reverts back in the preview. My searches in the Help section haven't turned up any helpful answers. Here's what it looks like. This is the font after a paragraph break. And the paragraph still doesn't separate! I'd appreciate any help with this.

Did you hear the one about....

2011-03-31T06:46:00.004-04:00

How's this for Mother Nature pulling an April Fool's joke.....we're supposed to get rain mixed with snow tonight and tomorrow. No wonder why those geese I saw the other day were going in the wrong direction. They must have known, lol ;)

Stopping by

2011-03-28T21:44:00.017-04:00

Things have been well, although it could be a little warmer around here. The heat gets turned on when I return home from work. Unusual for this area at the end of March. But, warmer days are coming!

I just returned from having dinner with my mother. She lives a half hour away and normally I don't drive over during the week, but the threads on her sewing machine were forming clumps underneath the throat plate. If she can live nine decades plus and still hem her own pants, she deserves to have her sewing machine fixed asap. Besides, the sun was out and it was a pleasant drive listening to old rock, Eric Clapton and all.

The daffodils are still not blooming around here, but the crocuses are gorgeous! The purple striped ones have always been my favorite, but the mix of yellow, purple, and white is always such a happy sight :)

I promised a fourth giveaway, which I originally scheduled for this week. I have had to reschedule it for next week, since I'll be away Saturday and Sunday and the giveaway may have something to do with that. So please stop by on Monday to see what's coming up next!

Have a pleasant evening!

All about you and me, or not

2011-03-26T18:44:00.013-04:00

We go about our lives leaving a trail that a gumshoe detective could piece together easily these days. First there are those credit cards that tell everything we buy, from mega-packs of Pampers at Costco or some other buying club, to movie tickets and wine. They also show where we've been. Whether we fly across country or pay for tickets to Disneyland or just purchase petrol on a road trip two states away, we leave a trail.

We use those little tags at the grocery stores to get deals on food. The brand of coffee you use is on sale if you use that tag this week so get two packs. Do you ever wonder if they keep track of what you buy? The diet soda and ice cream.....

Our cell phone leaves an even more ominous trail. The wireless carriers routinely check the location of our phones for access to the nearest tower. Another way of looking at it is that they always know where you are. And it's on record. According to this article in the NYTimes, the wireless company used by this gentleman in Germany tracked and saved his coordinates over 35,000 times within a six month period. He had to go to court to see the information they had collected.

Like a television or a computer, it seems that we can no longer live without an electric paper shredder in every home. For a sense of security, we destroy old bills and receipts. How many of our grandmothers are shredding the junk mail because it has their name and address on it, when just a generation ago our names and addresses were listed in the public telephone book?

I confess to having a shredder. In order to use it about once every other week, I have to get it from the back of the lower cabinet, plug it in, and hover over the trash can. (The base is somewhere in the storage room. I choose not to have the unit out in the open, like a piece of furniture.)

However, the other day I came across one of these. They do not need electricity. They can do crosscut, making tiny pieces. They actually take less time than setting up my electric unit. I just grab them out of the junk drawer, where they sit with my regular scissors. Win, win, win. I'm loving this.

I've seen these for as much as $18.99, but these were at the secondhand store for a dollar.......win.

Ahhhh, Spring!

2011-03-24T06:36:00.003-04:00

Good morning, sunshine!, er, uh, ...... ???

It's Wednesday! Have a great one!

Last week's thrift score

2011-03-22T07:03:00.001-04:00

I know. I mentioned the rotary wall phone a few posts ago. I've owned a few of these over the past few years, mostly black. Although there was that deep yellow one (circa 1960s) that I wish I had kept. And someday I hope to stumble across a green one that will match my blender ;) But I sold them all in yard sales, much to my regret.

This one is white and covered with emergency stickers. The plan is to clean off the stickers, use a little Mr Clean Magic Eraser on the phone and hang it on a wall, unconnected, of course. A girl can have a little fun :)

So, what else was there besides the old papers?

There was a copy of the Newly Revised Sewing Made Easy from 1960. Along with sections on choosing material and altering patterns, I particularly like the chapter on Remodeling Your Clothes. Yes, refashioning is not new ;)

There was an undiscovered box of old Christmas ornaments. I have always regretted not taking the ones my mother was giving away! But I've been able to find a few boxes over the years.

You may have noticed that one of the latest trends on sewing blogs is the return of the old-fashioned sunbathing top. The vintage patterns are running up high prices on ebay. I just happened upon three of the "real deal"....3 original sunbathing tops. The elastic has done what elastic does with age, but these are really neat. I may end up using them to draft patterns.

The pink and white floral number has an interesting tie detail, where it feeds through the loop. It also has that wonderful shirred back, typically vintage. I had a bathing suit of shirred material like that when I was a young child.

There was also a dress which I am anxious to show you, but it is at the dry cleaners. I'll tell you about it next week ;)

It was a very good day. I hope all of yours are, too!

The Spring Apron winner is...

2011-03-19T18:08:00.007-04:00

....comment #2

Mug!

Your Spring Apron will be mailed on Monday :)

Maybe we'll see that peanut butter cake in an upcoming post?

(I always love a good cake recipe!)

One more giveaway coming soon, to celebrate my second blogiversary. Thanks to everyone for stopping by.

9 left

2011-03-19T07:49:00.000-04:00

If my eyes hadn't gotten tired last night, I would have stitched on the 9 more pieces that will complete the medallion motif in the center block of my quilt top. But sometimes you know when it's time to stop. So there are 191 pieces appliqued on the fabric and those 9 more will be done before the weekend is over.

For any new readers, this quilt top is appliqued with flowers made from vintage aprons and housedresses. My goal is to make something beautiful to honor the women who toiled to make happy, healthy, beautiful homes with clothing that was once theirs. (Note: only aprons and dresses that are not in good vintage condition were cut for this project.)

This is the center block after last month's FNSI......

And this morning......

I'll be starting the corner blocks this week. They each have a bouquet of appliqued flowers, much smaller than the center medallion.

A grilled cheese sandwich with a spinach and tomato salad made for a satisfying start to the evening. There was an extra bonus of being able to have the doors and windows open, letting in that fresh air to push out the staleness of winter. By the way, for anyone in the northern U.S. and Canada: there's supposed to be an extra bright and large full moon tonight. On the radio, they're calling it a "Super Moon". Watch for it tonight!

Later today I'll be blog-hopping to see what everyone was working on last night during the March Friday Night Sew-In. There are a lot of inspirational crafters out there.

Have a wonderful Saturday :)

Friday!

2011-03-18T06:33:00.004-04:00

Crocuses are starting to bloom! I just passed some yellow ones yesterday, with their happy sunshine glow. The daffodils are still flirting with Spring, leaves started up but no sign of buds yet. Before you know it, lovely colors will be all around us!

On the subject of color, if you've got some yarn scraps that you haven't had use for, you may want to take a look at this.

If you're still thinking about it, remember that my Spring Apron giveaway winner will be chosen this Saturday evening at 6:00 eastern time. Leave a comment on the original post to join in.

I'll be participating in tonight's Friday Night Sew-In, so look for photos tomorrow! I've got a light dinner planned so I can get started early. There are 170 folks already signed up, so there will be a LOT of really great crafts being displayed on Saturday.

Have a great Friday :)

Epitaph

2011-03-16T19:32:00.015-04:00

Have you ever wondered what your things will tell the world about you after you are no longer here? Aside from what you write on the internet, how do your possessions describe you? One hundred ten years from now if someone finds your wallet or purse, what information would they glean from it? I've often felt that once I'm gone.....well, I'm gone. Other than immediate family and family stories, there won't be much known about me.

I drove over to the secondhand store this evening for a quick look-around. Along with my usual clothing treasures and a rotary wall phone (I don't even know if it works, but it'll be one great conversation piece ;) I was digging through the mess and saw some old, small newspaper clippings. Curiosity always gets the best of me, so I started gathering them up. With them were also some pieces of paper with very old fashioned writing. My heartbeat quickened and I did not want anyone to notice that I was now grabbing these clippings faster when my eye caught a very old disintegrating wallet. Once I thought I had everything, I set in in my cart and covered it so my haul wouldn't draw attention. Only after I paid at the register and sat in the car did I open some of the papers to see what I had.

The first papers were from Geo. H. Cooper, dealer in Choice Family Groceries, and was a tally of goods and foods purchased by a Mr. Marks, showing partial payment in 1893.

There was also a bill of goods from Eli Brockett, builder. Mr Marks was earning $3 per day for labor in 1872.

Perhaps the most interesting paper was the receipt from the tax collector in 1897. The tax due on property valued at $450 was $5.40, paid by Mrs Marks. The receipt also has lines for Poll Tax and Millitary Commutation Tax.

Mr Marks was interested in farm and animal related articles from the paper. There's a very interesting chicken coop in one clipping. The one I particularly enjoyed was the one stating: "As a rule it is the ladies who succeed best at poultry keeping. Their patience, industry and good sense carry them through successfully whenever they undertake the business. A woman is nearly as proud of a flock of little chickens or turkeys as she is of a baby."

What would my wallet say about me? I have a separate key ring with all those little plastic tags from the grocery stores and Best Buy and CVS to get special "savings". Would they think I spend all my time looking for ways to spend money? Likewise the receipts that get stuffed in there. My pocket calendar with birthdays, appointments, vacation days, hieroglyphic notes scratched everywhere....would they think I'm very organized....or dis-organized?

I'm somewhat impressed at the collection from Mr. Marks. It says so much more about him than just being someone who kept papers......over one hundred ten years ago.