Lent of My Childhood

The church my family attended when I was a child observed the season of Lent with Wednesday evening services. In our community there were two Lutheran churches, and although each belonged to a different synod, we alternated back and forth for the mid-week service.

Strangely enough when I think back to that time what I remember most clearly is sitting in that unfamiliar little church beside my mother singing the somber hymns associated with Lent. I can visualize the beautiful white altar and communion rail at the front, and the unique fiberboard on the walls that wrapped around us. It was cozy and comforting to that little girl sitting beside her mother.

 

And then following "The Old Rugged Cross"...

 

Comes the trumpet fanfare and "Christ the Lord is Risen Today!"

 

So many times in life are like Lent/Easter. There is the waiting, wanting, wishing, hoping... and finally the fulfillment - even sweeter because of the preparation.

 

Till next time...

Blessings,

Gail

Dutch Treat

These Delft dishes, made in Holland, are just passing through our hands briefly. So, while they were in my home I wanted to make beautiful pictures with them. Enjoy...

 

 

 

 

 

At times we just need to look around to find beauty in our everyday lives and often it is fleeting.  Whether it is an uplifting experience, a lovely flower or an inspiring person, grab hold and

make a beautiful picture to tuck away in your memory!

 

Till next time...

Blessings & Beauty,

 

Gail

 

 

 

Show 'n Tell

My friend, Linda, and I attend a monthly Girl's Night at a quilt shop in Dell Rapids, and the main feature is a show 'n tell time. There are some amazing quilters that attend, and I really enjoy being inspired by the beautiful items they bring. Last evening I brought a quilt that I made fifteen years ago.

 

We were looking ahead and planning for my mom's 80th birthday later that year, and I wanted to do something with a quilt. After much thought and searching for ideas, I decided to do a crazy quilt design and include pictures. This is how it turned out, and it has been hanging on Mom's wall ever since.

 

 

There are twelve blocks and each one has a theme: Parents, Siblings, Young Woman, Marriage, Children, Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren, Career, Hostess, Sewing/Needlework, Reading/Puzzles and the Birthday block.

 

 

I had the pictures printed on a special paper and the image could then be ironed onto a plain piece of fabric. Once that was done, those pieces were just included with other fabric in a crazy quilt design.

 

As each block was sewn together, I passed them off to my mother, who did all the hand stitching. She did a stitch along each connecting seam and then embellished as she saw fit - using lots of flowers. I treasure each of those stitches and the love that she put into this project.

 

We then chose other items to add to the finished quilt - buttons, bits of lace and ribbon, her 20 year pin from her job, and a treasured locket.

 

Because of the pictures, we were unable to quilt it in a traditional way, but there is stitching around each block to hold it secure.

 

 

And since it is not the type of quilt that will be used or washed, that works just fine.

 

 

Are you inspired to try a similar project to honor the life of someone special to you? It doesn't need to be expressed in the same way with needle and thread, but I want to assure you that you will be glad you made the effort.

 

Time passes, and what was possible fifteen years ago would not be possible today.

 

Till next time...

Blessings,

 

Gail



Books, They Aren't Just For Reading...

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time you know that I love to read. But there is more to it than that... I love books! There are a couple of reasons why I most often read on my iPad these days, but that doesn't mean I can't be surrounded by books. To me a grouping of books is beautiful, and I find a room without books to be... well, rather boring.

You probably recognize my favorite stack of vintage children's books wrapped up with a bit of twine. Here they are giving a bit of height to a treasured figurine.

 

And again, a couple of books help to vary the height to a grouping of objects, but I was going for a softer look so they are draped with a pretty doily.

 

This time I've used a basket to gather several books along with an ironstone pitcher filled with greenery and a lovely piece of needlework. For this arrangement the colors and sizes of the books used became important.

 

 

This antique painted box holds books that have family connections. It may move around the house, but the contents tend to stay the same... they all seem to belong together.

 

 

One of my ironstone pitchers is much more interesting perched atop a few books.

 

 

What creative ways have you used books in your home? I'd love to hear from you!

 

 

Till next time...

Blessings,

Gail

A Little Extra Effort...

It really just takes a few extra minutes to set a pretty table...

 

And it's a simple way to make a Valentine dinner special.

 

 

I think a T-bone steak and baked sweet potato along with a green salad will look pretty good on those plates. And I'm planning on topping it off with a strawberry rhubarb trifle.

 

Yum! The only thing better would be if somebody else was cooking... maybe tomorrow evening!

 

Until next time...

Blessings,

 

Gail

 

A Valentine Sweet...

Wouldn't it be great to sit down and have a cup of coffee and a cookie together?

 

Since that probably isn't going to happen today, I'll do the next best thing and share a cookie recipe with you.



This is an old fashioned oatmeal cookie with Craisins. The original recipe calls for raisins, but since we aren't big fans, I have done a substitution. Besides, the little red dots are perfect for Valentines Day. You can get 36 cookies if you make them a bit smaller than I did (and don't sample any of the dough).

Old Fashioned Oatmeal & Craisin Cookies
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
2 cup oats
3/4 cup Craisins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Beat first 5 ingredients until well mixed
Whisk together flour, soda, salt, cinnamon & oats.
Add to sugar mixture in three additions scraping the bowl between.
Fold in Craisins.
Drop onto greased cookie sheet.
Bake 10 minutes.

Enjoy! Happy Valentines Day!

Till next time...
Blessings,

Gail

Good-Bye Winter!

That's it! I'm done! Even though I don't HAVE to go out most days, I have had enough of these frigid temperatures. Warm hugs to each of you that head out to your vehicle each morning to go to work or take kids to school.  Wishing that I could, but there is nothing I can do about the weather outside... but I can change what I look at inside.

When I packed away the Christmas décor early last month, I left out a number of items that were more 'winter' than 'Christmas' thinking they would remain until the middle of March. But their day is done... I don't need any reminders of winter as I look around my home. So, the deer and cute little figurines that are making snowmen and ice skating - the three angels, greenery and pine cones - my fun little Woof 'n Poof girls and the chenille snowmen... Bye bye! See you again in November.

And while I was busy clearing shelves and tabletops, it seemed like a good time to re-arrange the living room. Everything that I could lift or push got moved - it had been a while (anybody know how to revive the carpet where furniture legs have left an indent?).
Today as I look around there are definitely some areas that need to be re-worked and added to - what used to sit there? It will be a work in progress for a while as I sit with a cup of coffee and think it through!

At least I don't have to be reminded of winter everywhere I look, but I know it will slap me in the face when I step out the door!

Till next time...
Blessings,

Gail