Shaker Willow Tree
Friday, December 7, 2012
Girl in Blue
Primitive Girl In Blue painting
Little Girls
Author: Karen Barnes
Little girls are made of daisies and butterflies and soft kitty cat purrs
And all the precious memories of times that once were.
Little girls are made of angel's wings and giggles and a firefly's glow
And all the happy feelings, deep inside, that we all know.
Little girls are made of cinnamon and bubbles and fancy white pearls
And snowflakes and rainbows and ballerina twirls.
Little girls are made of sunshine and cupcakes and fresh morning dew,
And these are the reasons, little one, why everyone loves you.
And all the precious memories of times that once were.
Little girls are made of angel's wings and giggles and a firefly's glow
And all the happy feelings, deep inside, that we all know.
Little girls are made of cinnamon and bubbles and fancy white pearls
And snowflakes and rainbows and ballerina twirls.
Little girls are made of sunshine and cupcakes and fresh morning dew,
And these are the reasons, little one, why everyone loves you.
Angels
It is the Christmas time:
And up and down 'twixt heaven and earth,
In glorious grief and solemn mirth,
The shining angels climb.
- Dinah Maria Mulock
Pewter and O Christmas Tree
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
***
You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list,
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list,
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town
From Santa Claus is Coming To Town by lyricist Haven Gillespie and musician John Frederick Coots, 1932.
Primitive Christmas
Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month, that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth was born on that day; and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it; for mirth is also of Heaven's making.
- Leigh Hunt
Church and Nativity
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, All is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so Tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
All is calm, All is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so Tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night, holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light!
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King!
Christ the Saviour is here,
Jesus the Saviour is here!
Silent night, Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord at thy birth;
Jesus Lord at thy birth.
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord at thy birth;
Jesus Lord at thy birth.
The original lyrics of the song Stille Nacht were written in German by the priest Father Josef Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz X. Gruber in 1816. The version of the melody that is generally sung today differs slightly from Gruber's original.
Things of Beauty
Things of beauty shall heretofore grace these pages. There may be a lapse into project-itis. But then again, maybe not! There are times when beautiful things must be the main dish of life's banquet and so it shall be! Have a wonderful holiday! May you have a peaceful celebration with family and friends. Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah!
I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag....
One flag, one land, one heart, one hand. Happy Independence Day! -- Unknown Quotes
Christmas Porch and Charming Snowy Street
I used to spend time sitting on my front porch all year long, feeling the cool air, listening to the birds sing, and watching the weather passing by. When I was six, my friend Sally and I used to sit on her country porch for hours counting cars as they drove past. The porch is a lovely memory for me. It's also a place where you can watch as everything in life happens if you make time to spend listening and watching it all.
"I have often walked on these streets before
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before.
All at once am I several stories high
Knowing I'm on the street where you live..."
Lyrics by Lerner, Alan Jay/ Lowe/Frederick
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Pink and Tin
With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy.
-- Lope De Vega
Monday, December 3, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Dale's Yum Yum Cake
When my children were young there were many days when I didn't have enough milk and eggs in the house to make a treat for them. A friend of mine gave me the recipe below that came to her from her mother who had lived through the depression here in the US. I understand there are many variations of depression cakes out there--they all share the use of lower priced products like water instead of milk and vegetable oil or vegetable shortening (like Crisco) instead of eggs. I will add photos of the prep for this cake when I make it next. One of my grown daughters just called me to ask for the recipe so I decided this was a great time to post it. Photos will follow soon! Now I am anxious to make it again for us!
Dales' Yum Yum Cake recipe
Boil 5 minutes:
1 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup shortening
1/2 Cup raisins
2 squares chocolate (Or substitute 3 Tablespoons cocoa and 2/3 Tablespoon butter for each square of chocolate)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1-1/2 Cup Cold Water
When cool, add:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt, and
1 teaspoon baking soda.
Mix in same pot, pour into 8x8 baking pan or a bread pan. Bake 40 to 60 minutes--depending on your pan size and oven variations.
This recipe is for an everyday cake that got me through all those years when I didn't want to go out to get an ingredient that I didn't have in the house. Eggs, milk, etc. You can substitute almost anything for the raisins. I've used chocolate chips, coconut, cranberries, craisins, nuts and more. It's a dense cake, a depression cake, really.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Life Does Not Unfold In A Straight Line
Birthday parties here and afar put progress on the craft at hand on "Pause" temporarily. We've been buying, wrapping, traveling, and partying our little hearts out for a week!
Today, the sun is rising earlier and we are waking up with the daylight for our biking and walking. All is back to quasi-normal. There is no plan for any party today or in the upcoming week and it will probably take me the better part of the morning to drink my juice and take my vitamins--I keep getting distracted with ideas. But that's the normal I like. So--Hooray! Back to it.
New projects are backing up--so excited about so many things to do.
Since the sewing machine works so well, I want to make new seats and backs for director's chairs that I've been dying to use for years. Going to look at my Pinterest ideas for patio furniture to look at colors. I can use the old canvas as the pattern for their replacements. The real thing that's holding me back today is money for new fabric. In a few days, there will be a fabric shopping spree!
Also want to get the fabric for the slip cover that I've already begun. It's pictured below. That's going to be so satisfying when it is completed. There is no new progress on that project. Also awaiting fabric funding. And when company came to visit I made the error of moving the sewing machine into the bedroom. I truly believed I would sew there, but alas, it's out of sight and out of mind. So it's going back into the sunroom. Today.
I want to use some scrap fabric to made more large pillow cases for our king-sized pillows that we were lucky enough to get from the Borgata during a pillow give-away last year. I saw some adorable fabric cases (See the link here) that gave me the inspiration to try some colorful cases on my own.
And I've gotten pizza boxes to cover hopefully in a fabric that I've already used in the room. Do have to see if that's possible. The pizza boxes will be mounted on the wall at the back of a very high alcove that's in our dining area of the great room. The idea came from Pinterest. Here's the link if you want to check out how easy this is to do. Aren't they awesome in the picture above? Pizza boxes! Who will ever know that?
Today, the sun is rising earlier and we are waking up with the daylight for our biking and walking. All is back to quasi-normal. There is no plan for any party today or in the upcoming week and it will probably take me the better part of the morning to drink my juice and take my vitamins--I keep getting distracted with ideas. But that's the normal I like. So--Hooray! Back to it.
New projects are backing up--so excited about so many things to do.
Since the sewing machine works so well, I want to make new seats and backs for director's chairs that I've been dying to use for years. Going to look at my Pinterest ideas for patio furniture to look at colors. I can use the old canvas as the pattern for their replacements. The real thing that's holding me back today is money for new fabric. In a few days, there will be a fabric shopping spree!
Also want to get the fabric for the slip cover that I've already begun. It's pictured below. That's going to be so satisfying when it is completed. There is no new progress on that project. Also awaiting fabric funding. And when company came to visit I made the error of moving the sewing machine into the bedroom. I truly believed I would sew there, but alas, it's out of sight and out of mind. So it's going back into the sunroom. Today.
I want to use some scrap fabric to made more large pillow cases for our king-sized pillows that we were lucky enough to get from the Borgata during a pillow give-away last year. I saw some adorable fabric cases (See the link here) that gave me the inspiration to try some colorful cases on my own.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Day 2 - Slipcover Project
Unexpected company today delays my trip to get the fabric and supplies a day, but I did sign up for the mailing list for Jo-Ann's on the internet.
The best news of all is that the sewing machine works beautifully! It's out of its case and behaving like a pro on the sewing test on a cloth napkin (It's pitiful that I don't even have a single scrap of fabric to practice on yet!)--so that's a wonderful--and unexpectedly happy development! TA DA! I ripped the test stitches out of the napkin and returned it to the laundry. No harm done. Frugal, baby! That's me.
The initial Shopping List looks something like this:
1) cheap muslin for stapling onto the chair covering the print that may show through (Online Fabrics has this for $2.15/yd for 59-inch material)
2) staple gun and staples (may have this in garage--I know I saw one when looking for something else)
3) permanent press muslin, natural color, 45-inch wide fabric. Roclon has it for $3.30/yd online for the 45". I wanted 60" but 45 might work just fine. Going to pick up a coupon for it and compare local price to this. Get enough for slipcover, ruffle, and piping
4) pins--$3.30 online, Dritz--have some in old pin cushion in garage, too.
5) paper for pattern (butcher paper? craft paper?), $20-$30 for a large roll of 30-in online.
6) poly/cotton thread in white.
7) cord for piping--Simplicity piping cord $5 online, 12 yds, 3/16" diameter. Will need more than one.
8) do-it-yourself buttons for back--though I may wait to see the best size after I am further along - Etsy lists some beautiful natural cotton/linen covered buttons for $15 for 18 buttons. They are in a couple of different sizes, but enough of the same size for the back of the chair and some to make some coordinating pillows with smaller matchers. Sounds good and at least I know something like this is available.
9) extra sewing machine needles (you never know--I can be a wild woman at the machine)
I had forgotten the basic Singer sewing machine has the arm piece that makes sewing inside sleeves, etc., much easier. Nice!
Loving it,
Sue
The best news of all is that the sewing machine works beautifully! It's out of its case and behaving like a pro on the sewing test on a cloth napkin (It's pitiful that I don't even have a single scrap of fabric to practice on yet!)--so that's a wonderful--and unexpectedly happy development! TA DA! I ripped the test stitches out of the napkin and returned it to the laundry. No harm done. Frugal, baby! That's me.
The initial Shopping List looks something like this:
1) cheap muslin for stapling onto the chair covering the print that may show through (Online Fabrics has this for $2.15/yd for 59-inch material)
2) staple gun and staples (may have this in garage--I know I saw one when looking for something else)
3) permanent press muslin, natural color, 45-inch wide fabric. Roclon has it for $3.30/yd online for the 45". I wanted 60" but 45 might work just fine. Going to pick up a coupon for it and compare local price to this. Get enough for slipcover, ruffle, and piping
4) pins--$3.30 online, Dritz--have some in old pin cushion in garage, too.
5) paper for pattern (butcher paper? craft paper?), $20-$30 for a large roll of 30-in online.
6) poly/cotton thread in white.
7) cord for piping--Simplicity piping cord $5 online, 12 yds, 3/16" diameter. Will need more than one.
8) do-it-yourself buttons for back--though I may wait to see the best size after I am further along - Etsy lists some beautiful natural cotton/linen covered buttons for $15 for 18 buttons. They are in a couple of different sizes, but enough of the same size for the back of the chair and some to make some coordinating pillows with smaller matchers. Sounds good and at least I know something like this is available.
9) extra sewing machine needles (you never know--I can be a wild woman at the machine)
I had forgotten the basic Singer sewing machine has the arm piece that makes sewing inside sleeves, etc., much easier. Nice!
Loving it,
Sue
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