Monday, February 28, 2011

Mother's Music


The title may suggest lullabies, but these photos tell a different story. This music is from a collection of sheet music my mother, Opal Terrell, used when she was sweet sixteen and a very sassy seventeen! The young men who vied for her attention brought her music instead of candy or flowers. On several pieces she has written their names. Eventually there was only one who brought her music: Howard Teal, my Daddy. He asked her father if he could marry her and was given permission only if they would wait until she was 18. Opal celebrated that birthday on October 20, 1931, so on December 28, 1931 they drove over to a neighbor's house. The preacher from their little Baptist church was having Sunday dinner there, but he came out to the car before they could get out and go in, so the ceremony took place in the front seat of a Model T!

When I turn the yellowed pages and play the lilting melodies, I remember Mother's hands at the piano, Daddy's grip at the wheel of his pickup truck, and the way they held hands for over 50 years of marriage.



The music plays on.

Monday, February 21, 2011

French Knots and Daisy Chains

My mother and grandmother taught me to embroider by the time I knew how to read and write. I have some of the iron on patterns, colorful skeins of thread, and needles that they used when they embellished clothing, table linens, and pillowcases, like this one that I still use for my favorite bed pillow. It has been washed so many times it no longer needs the ironing they once would have done before carefully folding it and its mate (pillowcases were always done in pairs). The thin cotton is so soft and worn it is in danger of becoming kept instead of used. I love running my fingers over the blue flowers with their bumpy french knot centers and remembering how swift and deft their fingers were as they threaded kneedles, loaded embroidery hoops and began piercing with the needle, pulling it up at just the right spot, drawing out the thread, knowing which special stitch would achieve the right effect. There were feather stitches, blanket stitches, and feather stitches for borders and trims, but those used to bring the pattern lines to bloom were the ones that fascinated me. Running stitches, chain stitches, daisy chains and french knots brought the designs alive. I have enjoyed similar needle work: crewel, cross-stitching, and have loved crocheting and knitting. All of which I owe to those two women who were patient enough to teach me.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine Trees and Treats


You are right.  I did not pack away all my Christmas stuff.  This tree was a lovely woodland bird tree with strips of music from the Carol of the birds tucked into the branches, along with birds of every feather,  acorns, and tiny red glass berries.  I removed the music strips and tucked in red tissue paper hearts for this Valentine tree.  Appropriately, a photo of me and my Valentine (married for over 47 years now) is in the background.

  This transition from December to February has grown from simply keeping out a few red candles to multipurposing several holiday decorations.  Another tree with heart has stayed in my dining room.  This tiny tree,  a teacup tree with smaller hearts added to miniature teacups and my late mother-in-law's collection of tiny spoons, sits on- what else - a tea tray.
                                                                      Today, I am decorating Valentine cookies to add to the heart shaped basket.   Happy Valentine's Day!   
                                            

                                              

Monday, February 7, 2011

Learning Something New


While browsing blogs this week I came across a post which introduced me to a new art form. I never heard the word Zentangle before much less made one, but after checking some guidelines and looking up a few tangles, here is the result. In its simplest description, a Zentangle is a deliberate doodle in which you paint spaces with patterns. It is sometimes called yoga for the brain. Now that I have tried it with the materials I had on hand (a sketch pencil and fine tipped pen) I plan to shop for supplies and practice some more. Mine are obviously beginning attempts, but that is one of the plus points for these 3 1/2", one of a kind squares of line drawing and pencil smudges: no right or wrong! It is hard to do just one!

http://zentangle.blogspot.com

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Let it Snow

February has ushered Winter right to our front door. We woke this morning to howling winds and plummeting temperatures. Predictions are for snow before the end of the week, and a hard freeze every night this week. I went outside to cover some plants, moved others inside, and came back in even more thankful for the warmth and shelter of home. I think Bella just opened one eye and agreed with me.