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.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Putting It All Together
I love introducing good people to good food. That is one reason I am cooking soup one Wednesday night a month for over 50 people. Our weekly church suppers give me a chance for a favorite meet and greet. This week we will have Mexican Chicken Stew, served with cheese quesadillas and greens tossed with apples, walnuts, and apple cider vinaigrette. With help from loving family and good friends (many hands make light work), the large steaming pots of stew will warm a cold evening. Even better, as we gather around tables to enjoy eating together, hearts are warmed, too. As I put on my favorite apron, and begin to chop and simmer, putting it all together - I stir with a spoon that belonged to my father who, with my mother, ran a small cafe in a bus station in East Texas.
When the soup is ready, I will ladle it into bowls with a ladle that he also used in the cafe. He put delicious foods together, and had customers who came back time after time for his home style cooking. My earliest memories include aprons and spoons and feeding people. I enjoy new recipes, new kitchen tools, and new opportunities to cook for others, but I will always love using Daddy's old spoon and ladle.
When the soup is ready, I will ladle it into bowls with a ladle that he also used in the cafe. He put delicious foods together, and had customers who came back time after time for his home style cooking. My earliest memories include aprons and spoons and feeding people. I enjoy new recipes, new kitchen tools, and new opportunities to cook for others, but I will always love using Daddy's old spoon and ladle.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Making the Gifts Last
When our temperatures threatened to drop significantly below freezing a few weeks ago, we stripped our pepper and fall tomato plants and brought the harvest inside to add some flavor to our winter soups and omelets. The tomatoes obliged by ripening a few at a time. Habanero, Jalapeno, and Gypsy peppers were beautiful in bowl or basket, and have been welcome heat! Only a few remain, and I find myself counting them and thinking they are almost all gone. I am keeping a gratitude journal this year. So I will write that I am thankful for the gifts my garden has given me. Long past the time the plants have withered and faded, the fruit they produced nourishes and delights us. Our lives can be like that too.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Packing the Christmas Dress
When my mother was growing up, they never put up the Christmas tree until Christmas eve. All the festivities and celebrating came after Christmas. They celebrated the 12 days of Christmas beginning with Christmas day. Now that we decorate our and trees much earlier (ours is usually done on Thanksgiving weekend) we have longer to enjoy our house with its Christmas dress on, but I still don’t like to take anything down until Epiphany. As I pack away ornaments and manger scenes, I remember that I am not putting away the Christ-light. Nearly 30 years ago I wrote about “undecorating”.
The mantle seems lonely without the little manger scene.
The house looks plain, bereft of red and green.
The tree is down, the front door bare.
No wreath or garland festooned there.
Our mailbox no longer yields its daily harvest of cards.
The lights and Santas are gone from all the yards.
We packed away the manger scene,
But not the shine of the star!
For His new birth within us, no time or season can mar.
Because He was born, we have Christmas.
Because He died we have life.
Because He lives we have new years
No matter what serves us with strife.
We thank Him for peace and for promise.
We thank Him for love and for sight.
We thank Him for meaning and purpose.
We live to show darkness the Light.
Definitely older, hopefully wiser...I sing along to Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album, allow a few tears to fill my eyes, and am aware that the gifts of Christmas continue.
Labels:
Christmas,
gratitude,
Light,
remembering,
undecorating
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)