love of an old cat

I read just last week how to determine the age of your cat, or dog too for that matter. Penny was born in March 1993 which makes her 19 years old in people years. Let's see according to the chart that puts her at the ripe old age of  92 years old in cat years. Yes, that is about where I would place her exactly with her limps, deafness and octogenarian habits.

She lives in the bedroom that has now become my mother's room. My husband has dubbed it the geriatric room, a stark statement of truth which seems mighty appropriate. Though I do miss her sleeping beside me these evenings.

She ventured out this afternoon while I was in the sun room.  Then she meandered back with arthritic finesse to a common spot in order to take an afternoon sunbath in the foyer's afternoon glow.

weekend specials

There are those times that I would like to think I could ease into my weekend. Rise up on Saturday morning with a day of adventure and anticipation in my spirit, full of things to do and places to go without any hurry or lack. Reality finds me, however, discovering my own streaks of adventure in much smaller ways and nine-tenths of it works out to be plain attitude in approaching not only the tasks at hand but all the little extras too.

But I was able to sew on Charlotte's Easter dress and it is almost at the stage of completion. After  Saturday's appointment with my buttonholer and a threaded needle to do a little hand sewing it only lacks the addition of two more buttons on the back and then we are on to the final hemming.

 

Charlotte has assisted in the design of this dress. She accompanied me to the fabric store and chose a white eyelet with a light blue lining. Together we came up with the embellishment, a stack of yo-yos with a trio of the tiniest strands of dangling pearls. She is a pearly kind of girl after all!

Witt and Claire joined us for dinner. Somehow the momentum of the evening rose without any photos being taken. But is was lovely and a vase of forsythia with a few daffodils was set amongst us. I am always on the look out for a delicious dessert for Claire to eat that is both sugar and gluten free because I love her and want to please her.

After a dessert of ice cream and these extemely delicious little chocolate treats, we played several rounds of rummikub. Then it was time for them to leave, time change would create a Sunday morning with a muchly felt hour stolen from us. 

And if you have not checked out Claire's blog you should. She inspires me with her creativity, food and words.

a female's best friend

Cornstarch hails many virtues.

I personally keep a container on my pantry shelf for cooking and another one in the cupboard over my washing machine as an aid for removing spots, especially blood. Just place a small amount of dry cornstarch on the spot and make a paste with cold water. Let it set then rinse under cold running water. You may have to repeat the process. The last step is throw the item into your washing machine to launder normally. It works!

a gift of a certain day

The other evening we were cleaning up the supper dishes, a supper of a quick and easy Chicken Parmesan, and the words to this song became a topic of conversation. We were all trying to get the words and tune right, everyone adding their two cents worth but no one actually getting it right. YouTube to the rescue.

This is absolutely the best part of the movie. I could watch it over and over again and still never miss being totally delighted. I do not desire to have a pig, even one as irresistibly cute as Babe, and I think the low ceiling cottage has charm that might have possibilities. But that jig...oh my goodness...what I wouldn't like more than to be able to sing and dance right along with Farmer Hoggett!

And come to think of it who among us could not think of taking certain singular days, wrapping them in pretty paper, topping them with a fancy bow, and then presenting them as a gift to someone special?

If I had words to make a day for you,

I'd sing you a morning golden and true

I would make this day last for all time

then fill the night deep in moonshine.

Flora socks and Flora's book

A chocolate colored woolen sock being knit to match its mate is top priority on my #2 double points as I meet up with Ginny's Yarn Along. I knitted the first sock (and I am wincing slightly as I type this) about two years ago. It has a pattern with a four row change, and perhaps due to a distraction, I made a blunder while knitting the second one. It was small, I could have knitted on and consoled myself with the thought it was only a sock, no one would know. But I could not make myself continue on knowing I had made a variance in the pattern. It was like something stuck between my teeth, a constant nagging thought. However, I did not have the fortitude at that time to figure out from whence I had made the mistake. It was better to set it in the basket for another more convenient time. This winter was the time, I put on a now or never frame of mind and thankfully found the mistake without too much difficulty. I am happy to report I am on my way to the turning of the heel. These socks feel so wonderful on the feet and how I enjoy wearing a patterned sock.

Last winter we spent many a night getting to know the characters in this book by watching the BBC's series through Netflix. I knew I must read the books sometime during my lifetime. The trilogy put together as one book was a Christmas present to myself. I shamelessly ordered it through Amazon, wrapped it up, and placed it under the tree. Then I displayed such smug satisfaction when I opened it for all to see on Christmas morning. Late February seemed the perfect time to open its pages and enter into the world of Lark Rise and Candleford. I look forward to reading this book every evening just like I would look forward to eating a rich slice of chocolate cake. A perfect match with the socks if I may say so myself. I  have named these the Flora socks in honor of the author of this great classic novel.

one year ago today

This day in February will always paint a picture for me. My Father died last year on this date. It was Saturday evening, just before midnight. I was there with him and heard his last breath.

When memory paints in colors true,

The happy hours that belonged to you.

~Helen Steiner Rice~

In a corner in my house, an especially bright patch of pink

Cyclamens speak winter to me. But last year I could not find a cyclamen anywhere to be purchased even though I searched high and low. So I bought an orchid instead, a Sarcochilus hybrid. I successfully kept it alive and well all winter in the same corner where the cyclamen now blooms.

blue felted slippers and reading

As can be expected you will find at least one book on my nightstand that I am currently reading and yarn of some type on my needles. But today a completed knitted project is mine to share. They are super cute, even my girls love them, and they were so much fun to make! You might possibly want to consider making a pair too. I found the pattern here  and precisely remember buying this book for the sole purpose of having this pattern in order to make these felted slippers. The idea of knitting, felting and embroidering all on one project made me shine like the sun!

So without further ado, here's to this week's yarn along with Ginny.

And so you might know spring has sprung, the crocuses give huge evidence. Then there is the unwaning resonance of the peepers and the return of the towhee's song, ("Drink Your Tea"). My son, Alan, gave me this book about heaven by Anne Graham Lotz several Christmases ago, I have returned to its pages once again. Agatha Christie books have a worthy place when I am feeling sleuth-like, or maybe just tired and want someone else to provide the entertainment. This one entitled, The Unexpected Guest ,was picked up at the library. It has an odd twist from its very beginning and I must say I am curious how it will all come together in the end.  

all aboard!

My two middle children were driven to the train depot this morning. It was a promising day of sunshine and springlike warmth, yet nothing could have hampered their excitement anyway, the wonderfully accompaning weather  simply provided  a dab of pudding on the cake. They are headed to Washington, DC for the next five days to sight see and visit with a good friend of the family.

And my youngest child, Charlotte, has reached a pinnacle of success of her own.

She has worked on this feat since her ballet class had resumed in the fall. Faithfully she has practiced and stretched with the hope of finally being able to do a complete leg split. She was like the little engine that thought she could, she never gave up and she did.

On another note altogether:
What does one do with that small bit of coffee left in the coffee pot every once in a while? This is not an every morning occurrence at my house, but I do hate it when I have to pour any leftover coffee down the drain. I just read in a food magazine that you may freeze the coffee in ice cube trays to pop out whenever a need of coffee may present itself. It only happens every great moon when a certain recipe calls for some coffee, but it will be nice to know I can reach into my freezer and pull out an ice cube or twos worth if and when needed. And think no waste of that morning cup of jo!

whiskers on kittens and sunshine on roses

These are a few of my favorite things

criteria for surprisingly great dessert

Today I want to share a surprisingly great dessert. There are two assertions for causing me to elevate this dessert to such a position and giving it the label of a "surprisingly great dessert". First, it is beautiful in its simplicity, only requiring two ingredients, pizzelles and nutella, which understandably have now become staples on my pantry shelf. Then the delicious combination of  chocolate and hazelnut with the the anise or vanilla flavored thin wafer. A little sweet crunchiness running together with oozing smoothness.

 An excellent ending to a Sunday dinner, alongside an afternoon cup of tea, or even served to your dinner guests complemented with a cup of gourmet coffee.

It does not disappoint.

Just spread the nutella on a wafer and top with another wafer. I like the anise flavored pizzelles, but some might not so you might consider the vanilla flavored ones if the taste of anise is not to your liking.

Semplicemente elegante!

another yarn along week

Knitting and books give definition to my days.  I hope there will always be a book or two being read and at least one knitting project nearby in my life, even if the book may take weeks to read or the knitting project months to finish.

 I am for the most part a process knitter with the project being center front. And I see no ambivalence in this remark whatsoever. I love the process of knitting, the feel of the fibers crooked around my fingers and the repetitious rhythm of the needles and my hands. But I also love creating lovely things and dreaming about future projects to knit while seeing the completion of each knitting project only to start the entire process all over again with yet something else to knit.

I have looked forward to sharing with Ginny's yarn along group on Wednesdays, even if it is Thursday before I actually post it.

This week a grey chunky wool is being knitted into a cowl with 10.5 Turbo needles. I see cowls being sported these days and I must say my curiosity has been piqued when I see them. Are they comfortable to wear around the neck and do people truly enjoy wearing them? That might seem funny considering I am a person who loves wearing turtlenecks during the winter months, but I am not partial to scarfs like others might be. We shall see about this cowl.

And I  presently have two books in progress, (only two?) both by authors I have shared in past weeks. An excellent book filled with wisdom by Edith Schaeffer on prayer and another joy to read book by D.E. Stevenson, a perfect before you go to sleep read.

We have all of eternity to praise God in perfect bodies, in perfect surroundings, with beauty beyond our imagination now. We have only a very short time to make known to our Heavenly Father, our Savior and Shepherd, the Holy Spirit, our trust and love. Yes, we are to pray, knowing that nothing is too hard for Him, nothing is impossible for Him to do for us. But we join the martyrs through the centuries in tiny opportunities, or in major ones, to show the reality of our love for God.

Edith Schaeffer

A Life of Prayer

Time has been gentle here.
What on earth do you mean?
Father said, "Lewis, take the tray for Charles."
Lewis got up, muttering, "Well, I don't know what he means."
"Charles's meaning is perfectly clear," declared Father."Time has had a hand in the making of your mother's drawing room; everything has been here for years and has matured gently in the sunshine. There isn't a jarring note."

D.E. Stevenson

Sarah Morris Remembers