Handy Gadgets

Do you know what this object does?

Several years ago Mothers Day slipped the mind of the husband of a good friend of mine. She bought herself a handy gift for compensation of his forgetfulness and she graciously loaned it to me. If you have ever in your life attempted to press puffed sleeves, then this is the gadget for you. It attaches to your ironing board securely

and as you roll the sleeve around the hard stainless steel knob, being very careful not to touch the metal because it gets as hot as an iron,

little puffs of steam escape and the sleeves become something that would even make Anne Shirley proud. I like this tool very much. I went to Charlotte's closet and pressed all her sleeves this afternoon. I believe my friend received her fair reward! But I do not wish for my husband to forget Mother's Day in order to acquire one, therefore, I will make sure the children are given the adequate amount of hints along the way.

Resurrection Tree

Traditions of preparing for Resurrection Day in our home:

A sprayed white branch placed in a clear vase held with blue marbles,
colorful and sometimes sparkly decorations of eggs and lambs dangling from its tiny limbs.


With wonder and awe, Charlotte observes her father place some of the ornaments.


It is intentional to be eye catching as it sits on the dining room buffet. We will gather here many times throughout the week as additional symbols of the Holy Week will be added to the tree by the children.

For many year this glass cross has hung on our Resurrection Tree. It is made of twisted beads of glass, fragile yet strong, clear yet frosty. The contrast speaks volumes to me.

An enlightened moment

As Holy Week is rapidly approaching I am consciously preparing myself to be drawn into the passion of next week's celebration events. Also looking for ways to draw my children that they too may grasp the eternal truths. We began with a study of Passover as recorded in Exodus 12.

Sitting in the warmth of the morning's sunshine, Bibles opened in blue jean laps, reading aloud, a light comes into her eyes, "Mama, the blood, the doorposts, the cross........".

Yes, darling daughter...... you see.

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things out of your law."

Tiny Blooms

A break in the rain to enjoy a romp down the road and through the woodsy areas. We must not bemoan the superfluous amount of rainfall because the rains will bring more flowers in May. Not included are pictures of the colorful tulips, red buds and dogwood trees which are making their entrance on Spring's stage.


Rose took the picture of these delicate fanciful wildflowers picked from their beds scattered among the dead leaves. I slipped them into a buttonhole of my jean jacket (see header above) while she chose to tuck hers behind her ear in true maiden form.

Not wanting the life of these tiny beauties to end, Charlotte gingerly plucked a few and I came home to place them in a jar of water to rest upon my kitchen windowsill.

My fingers are tightly crossed, please root.

A New Knife

While shopping with my husband Saturday morning in a few towns over, the magnetic pull of a fancy expensive kitchenware store allured us inside its double etched doors. This sort of well-marketed store makes my senses zing as I wander around its beautiful arrangements of kitchenware, my mind is like flint not intending to actually buy anything, but enjoying the looking tremendously. Chopping and slicing with good knives is rather like sleeping on 400 thread count sheets, they are not absolutely necessary, but it makes the going so much more delightful. As we paused by the glass- covered knife display cases, we soon discovered the Henckel knives were on sale with a substantial amount of savings. My husband purchased a 7 inch santoku knife which now enables me to chop my garlic, onions or whatever kind of vegetable with complete ease and pleasure.

Tonight's simple dish was chicken with a lemon-caper sauce. I diced garlic with elegance and dexterity.

A hot water soak prior to cutting the lemon yielded more juice.


The reflections gave me the idea of yet another item that could be used as an emergency mirror when I must apply lipstick in a pinch!

A subtle tube of lipstick may be kept in an apron pocket for those "just in case" times when company is knocking on the door. I find that a little lipstick goes a very long way for giving one a put together look even if everything else is awry.

On my knees, indeed

"My dear," she said after a time, "have you a perfectly distinct, settled view of what Christ is to the human soul?"
"I do not know. I understand, of course, more or less perfectly, that my salvation depends on Him alone; it is His gift."
"But do you see, with equal clearness, that your sanctification must be as fully His gift, as your salvation?"
"No, I said, after a little thought. "I have had a feeling that He has done His part , and now I must do mine."
"My dear," she said, with such tenderness and feeling, "then the first thing you have to do is to learn Christ."
"But how?"

"On your knees, my child, on your knees!" She was tired, and I came away; and I have indeed been on my knees.

Stepping Heavenward
Elizabeth Prentiss

Embellishments

Embellish (em bel' ish) v. to add beauty to; decorate; adorn; ornament


Every year upon visiting a favorite fabric goods shop, I painstakingly (only because there are so many beautiful bolts of material) choose a pretty fabric to make Charlotte's Easter dress. A simple yoke dress smocked with lovely threads seems to appeal to my sense of spring and newness. I embellish the pleated yoke with stitches of cable, trellis, outline, bullion, and french knot.

Of course, I then transport my work here and yonder in one of the baskets I have woven, because inevitably a basket should serve a purpose and the sewing riding inside my basket adds just the perfect amount of extra embellishment.

A day with heaps of splendid things

"I think the nicest thing about days is their unexpectedness," went on Rilla. "it's jolly to wake up like this on a golden-fine morning and day-dream for ten minutes before I get up, imagining the heaps of splendid things that may happen before night."
Rilla of Ingleside
L.M. Montgomery


On Friday mornings the girls enjoy our morning Bible time to include extra application readings. I have used various materials in the past but this particular morning it came from Jill Novak's , Girlhood Home Companion Magazine. This magazine is a splendid treasure including beautiful photography and wonderful stories which encourage, teach, and celebrate the total wonder and gift of being created feminine for His glory.

I love the kindergarten year. Every day, every week, every month is filled with watching a blossom unfold in your midst. And the best part for me is the lack of pressure in teaching this level because so much learning takes place in the everyday happenings of life. Charlotte has done splendidly well with the reading lessons, Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons. I bought this book many years ago to teach one of my other children to read and instead chose to use another source. I dug this book up last year and decided this was the method I would use for Charlotte. It is an amazing technique, and it works!


Finishing up our geography unit on North America, specifically the United States, Rose was able to concentrate on each state's locations and its capital. A splendid review of USA geography.


Now that the rains have passed over, we headed to the muddy field to try Mr. Putter in his first outside beginner agility class. After he managed to get his "corginess" out, he was focused and performed his tasks for Rose splendidly.

Dandelion Charm

Expectations soared as we were able to be outside this afternoon after a pending streak of rainy days. Indoorsy things had achieved their range of comfortable levels and we were overdue for some plain old outdoor romping.

The girls had watched Part 1 of the movie "Ice Age", ( note, I am not intending to promote this movie due to some of its propaganda bents and fallacies), alongside their father the evening I attended basket making class.
Therefore, while on our walk today, quoting one of the prehistoric creatures in the movie with great jollity they exclaimed, "O look, a dan-de-lion!"
There it sat on the curbside blooming as bright and yellow as the sunshine. I was then delightfully entertained with the story behind this quote. Two separate versions done by a voice mimicking twelve year old and facial expressive five year old.
Dandelions will never cease to charm me from this day forth.

A Tisket, A Tasket.....

I like baskets. They are so friendly and their many purposes can not be argued. More importantly I have discovered a way to add them to my collection.

A free Friday evening, a fun group of women( mind you, I did not say especially crafty), three willing instructors, and supplies already provided in the fee. Viola! A basket to take home .

And your family is so impressed.

Wool Stories and Wool Patterns

Revisiting....
the skeins of wool yarn stuffed in crooks and crannies around my house. The reason for all this wool started with a definite preoccupation of mine many years ago which has an unmistakable similarity to the tale " If you give a mouse a cookie". I wanted to learn to spin wool so it was on to purchasing drop spindles and spinning wheels. To spin the wool of others did not satisfy, I dreamed of live fleece dotting my fields as well as greasy fleece in my hands. Therefore, the next woolly source to be acquired was a flock of sheep. Many happy hours were spent with my wheel humming and whooshing its merry rhythm. I was a spinner of wool. I was a shepherdess.

After several years of shearing and bags of fleeces sitting lonely, I decided I would send my wool to a spinnery to have it commercially spun. I believe everyone might have some sort of story to tell of their $$$$$ mistake. This was mine. But on a positive note I do have a life's supply of 16 oz.skeins of white wool from my own Romney sheep. Wool, I might add, that takes dye perfectly when it is color you desire.

I started knitting Charlotte some new mittens on a snowy day with this wool.

And bethgem asked about the pattern......

I love this book and the worn front cover can attest to its frequent use. So many good patterns to knit and each contains a delightful short story that tells of how the pattern came to be.

These particular family mittens are beginner easy and were my first choice for Charlotte's mittens as I have made them before and knew they could be knitted up quickly, but Mr. Putter shamelessly got hold of my knitting that had been carelessly abandoned on a chair and mindlessly chewed one of my #6 DPNs to smithereens. Unfortunately, I did not have an extra needle in that size.

So this is the pattern I am now using to knit her mittens. The more I looked at this pattern the more I liked its pattern, the simple waves and valleys were irresistible. I am maintaining the original plan of teal with red stripes on the ribbed cuffs, and of course a red thumb!

I am using my Knitpicks #3 DPNs. This is the first time knitting with them and they are quite fine. Silky and smooth with the right amount of glide. I will not be careless with the placement of my knitting this time.