Wishing For Pine Needles

Welcome Henry!

I'm taking a break this week  from Flour Sack Friday to share the news of the recent arrival of my scrumptious new nephew, Henry.  He, with his handsome head of dark hair and his tiny ball chin, ranks right up there with the sweetest of new babies ever!

 

 

Little does he know that he entered this world as darling baby brother to three doting siblings and brand-new cousin to three kissing cousins.  I dare say this little man will hardly know a quiet moment, a peaceful morning, or a what it means to be alone.  Even sometimes.  There are just way too many of us who love him already!

 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of the came to be.

Psalm 139: 13-16

the Quilts in our Home - part One

Quilting.

I can't think of a better lifelong skill to have.  I am beginning to realize that eventually there will be an end to sewing dresses and nightgowns for my little girls....sigh.....and let's face it....sewing for little boys isn't nearly as fun. (Sorry Hans!)  I suppose there will always be curtains and pillowcases to make, but utilitarian sewing for the home doesn't quite give me the same warm and fuzzies as sewing for my babies. 

But, thankfully, I think quilting just might!

A goal of mine for this year of 2011 is to quilt.  I'll learn more on my own by trial and error, read some quilting books, and maybe even take a class.  But someway, somehow, I plan to spend some time on this art that has been a treasured pastime of women for centuries.

Years before I'd ever considered quilting as a hobby of my own, I had an appreciation for all quilts and began a modest collection.  So I've decided to launch a small series to showcase these beauties, some of which have become my most beloved treasures.

The first one I'd like to start with is one of my very favorites!

 

I suppose you're actually looking at two beautiful quilts in this picture.....but the one I'd like to focus on today is hanging on the wall rack.  It was given to me by a relative to whom I'll be forever grateful.  The history of this quilt is somewhat fuzzy, but is believed to have been made in the very early 1900's as a hope chest item by my great uncle's mother.  It's completely hand-quilted which makes it even more special.  Although the stitches are neat and tidy, they are are far from perfect, which could confirm that it was indeed made by a younger woman who hadn't yet gained precision and experience.

 

This is a honeycomb (or hexagon) quilt pattern, which remains the oldest quilt pattern known to be published in an American periodical.  This specific pattern is called Grandmother's Flower Garden.  I found a fascinating history of this quilt here incase you're interested!

 

 

There is so much about this sweet quilt that I would love to know.  The exact year it was completed would be a great start.  What was going on in the world when she stitched the last stitch?   Who did this quilt keep warm?  How many different homes has it lived in?  Did it see laughter and happiness or did it capture many tears?  My best guess is probably a little bit of both.  Yes, this quilt remains a mystery and for this I love it all the more.

Now this quilt is here in our home.  Hopefully just another stop along her journey.  Lovingly displayed over the bed of Miss Rylen.  (I think she's one lucky girl!)

Flour Sack Friday - A Stroke of Blog Giveaway Good Fortune

If you happen to enjoy the blog world as much as I do, I'm sure you've noticed the occasional "giveaway."  Maybe you've entered one or two before, or just maybe you've even won something.  ( If you're not as familiar with blog-world, a "giveaway" is nothing more than a contest created by the writer of a blog, who will give away something to a randomly-selected reader who leaves a comment.)

Before Christmas I noticed a giveaway at this little blog.  The owners of this blog also own Imagine Childhood which is a lovely on-line store full of different educational and hand-on products for kids.  Truth be told, it's not a blog I visit often.  But because it was Christmas and because I am drawn to the things in their store, I found myself clicking right on over there.  

To enter this giveaway,  I was required to leave a comment about how I would spend $100 at Imagine Childhood.  If I won, they would send me what I wished for!  Easy enough.  I've had my eye on these beautiful stuffed animals for a while now.  So I quickly chose an animal for each of my kiddos, typed them in the comment box and pushed enter. 

Hundreds of comments.

What are the odds?

Well, apparently, on this day, the odds were in my favor!  Because these beauties were delivered to my front door a week later, completely and wonderfully free!  (And just in time for Christmas!)

 I hope this encourages you to visit a few of the many wonderful blogs out there and enter those giveaways!  It's a great way to support bloggers and an easy way to come by some unique and often handmade items for free.  Wishing  you a stroke of blog giveaway good fortune!

Happy Weekend!

Flour Sack Friday - Around Town

The Cincinnati Art Museum....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family First Saturdays

(Completely Free and Completely Fantastic!)

Winter Cooking #2 - Dan's Donuts

Who knew that my husband could make such divine, perfectly gooey, mouth-watering donuts?

 

(I suppose it's easy if you have a Daddy that's as Cool as ours!)

 

Flour Sack Friday - the Art of the Barter

Barter.  To trade goods or services without the exchange of money.

This sounds like a smart thing to do in this topsy-turvy economy.  But doesn't it seem that, even when the dollars flow freely, bartering is a wise and resourceful thing to do anyway? 

(It sure is a lot of fun!)

My first intentional barter involved a certain chair that you may remember.

 
Along with the much-appreciated (and much needed!) help of my mother-in-law,  I made this slipcover for a friend's irregular-shaped, very sentimental, red-velvet chair.  It just so happens that this sweet friend, who I've known for just about my entire life, has developed her own photography business and does fantastic work!  So in return for the slipcover, we got PICTURES!

 

 

I just love how they turned out and appreciate how hard my friend worked to capture the candid essence of our family.  Check out more from our session here at her blog!

Do any of you have any good bartering stories?

Happy Weekend!

Winter Cooking #1 - A big batch of Granola Love

I am pleased to say that this Christmas brought me two, big Mason jars full of homemade granola.  This is the second annual batch I've received....you may remember the pictures of the beautifully decorated jars of last year here.  (I'm quite certain that this year's batch was gobbled up and gone before my little camera made its way to the kitchen!)

 

This isn't just any old granola, but granola made especially for me by my dear friend.  This friend and I met 7 years ago when our oldest were babies.  We had both recently moved into this area and were desperate for a  like-minded mama friend.  One conversation and visit led to another and we eventually realized that we clicked.  From there it slowly became one of those call-you-every-day, get-together-with-kids-several-times-a-week, go-out-shopping-and-out-to-dinner when-we-could-get-away friendship.  It was a share-our-families, confide-in-each-other-about-a-positive-pregnancy-test, pray-for-each-other, grieve-together-over-a-miscarriage, talk-about-faith, and celebrate-a-new-baby kind of friendship.  It became a share-our-secrets, listening-ear, inside-joke, and have-a-good-cry friendship.

And when this friend called to tell me they were officially moving away for a job-transfer, I bawled like a baby.  Right there on the phone.  In the middle of the day.  (Wasn't it kind of me to make it so much easier on her? ahem.)

The plan was for them to move back...someday....when the time was right for her husband to return here for his job.  I was semi-hopeful.  (OK.  I'll be honest.  I never thought they were coming back.  another ahem.)

So, it was to my complete surprise when my friend called to tell me they were indeed moving back!  And, in a few short weeks at that.  I could not have been happier!!!  And when they purchased a home 4 minutes away from ours, I was thrilled and nostaglic and at great peace with the thought of being back in each other's daily lives.

But, since this post was really supposed to be about making granola, I should share that in addition to the two jars, my friend also gave me the gift that keep's on giving.....the recipe!

  

She put together a beautiful cookbook filled with her most favorite recipes and gave it to me for Christmas.  It was so thoughtful and so her, which makes me love it even more.  She even wrote handwritten notes on some of them.  I love looking at this handwriting that I have come to know over the years and remember the encouragement and kind words that it's brought me.

  

So, there's my story about my first batch of homemade granola.  And my friend who has given it to me.

(But I think maybe it's really the story of a special friendship that is and always will be very near and dear to my heart, in a way that even granola this good never could be!) 

 

Happy New Year!

We're so glad it's 2011!

 

Wishing you the VERY best in this New Year!