the coffee/hot chocolate bar

When discussion began in earnest about what extra things were desired for the reception, Rose's mind grasped her guests would be coming out on a cold winter evening. She proposed a coffee/hot chocolate bar with all the fixings.

Two days before the wedding, some of the wedding party showed up at my house to make triple portions of hot chocolate mix, and then they sat at my kitchen table and filled little tins with the hot chocolate mix that were to be given as favors.

Later that day, large marshmallows were dipped in white chocolate and swirled amidst little pearly beads with the sole purpose of being plunked into a mug of hot chocolate, a mass of floating winter charm bobbing in chocolate.

 Hot Chocolate Mix

32 oz. Nesquick Chocolate Mix
25 oz. Powdered Milk
16 oz. Non-Dairy Creamer
1 lb. Powdered Sugar

Fancy Creamers were added to the bar, along with marshmallows, cinnamon sticks and crushed peppermint candy.

a wedding program

Surprisingly, of all the things I did as the wedding planner for my daughter's wedding, by far the most challenging was the creating and filling in of the wedding ceremony's program. It took the greatest time and effort for me to complete a finished, perfect copy of the ceremony's order of events along with the listing of the wedding party's names.

And I had support and help in a wonderful person who put all my information on the computer for printing. She also printed the first batch of programs, trimming and folding all 200 of them! Yes, I did say, first batch. After several times of proofreading, thinking I was going over them with a fine-tuned comb, having others look at them, still, the groom's maternal grandfather's name showed up spelled wrong on the final copies!

I had to build up nerve to call this wonderful person and ask her if she would please reprint them. Then one evening my husband, Charlotte and I sat at the dining room table and we cut and folded all 200 of this second batch. If I had not already realized it, at this point I was assured this wonderful person did not charge me nearly enough!

But we were extremely pleased with the final program. 

Leslie, will be helping to plan her daughter's wedding in the future. I did this post especially with her in mind!

"like" button choices

 In this space I share bits and pieces of my life, realizing that there will be some kindred spirits out there that might possibly share, or at least enjoy a common lifestyle with me. I love reading certain blogs and commenting from time to time, and I equally love the times I have received comments from others upon their reading one of my posts.

All that to say, I deleted my instragram last evening. I have yet to begin a facebook account, although I am aware of how it works and have visited from time to time on my daughter's space. Yes, there are times I feel antiquated, or a lone ranger, or (*gasp*) not "in the know". But for the most part I stand ground on the thought of what I don't know won't kill me, or hasn't to this point anyway.

I am not savvy with technology and the communication modes of today. I am not trying to moralize, judge, or stand on any sort of soapbox here, so please fine tune what I am saying. I frankly need to voice these thoughts today for some reason. It is simply a matter of  choosing not to connect with people in that manner. I can't remember why I signed up for an instragram account this summer...maybe a suggestion from someone younger and more "with it" than me...But when I remembered to check that little box on my phone I would find myself flummoxed. If I like something from time to time...wonderful...all I had to do was push the little heart- like button and I had made a statement. Where it began to be a issue was when I did not like something necessarily...and by not liking it would I be hurting some one's feelings? I would read all the names of the others that liked it, and wonder if maybe the thing to do was just always push the like button...but then why have the choice? 

Is our culture's need to become seekers of approval from others so strong that sincerity and honesty have no solid ground upon which to stand? Do we wear masks even as we push little heart -buttons of liking as we view these small windows of other people's lives? And does it hold any clout or give strong meaning to what photos we will actually display on our instragram? 

Thanks for allowing me this bit of bewildered wandering. I am very much like one in the desert these days.

   Totally random photo....  in September we made a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. 

I posted it because I like her blue ribboned straw colonial hat, and because I like how I caught her looking at a running stream under the cabinet maker's shop. You may comment a " like" if you want to, if you don't, I promise, it will not hurt my feelings....it's your choice.

instant pics

Remember polaroid cameras of your youth? Practically every family had one. It was instant gratification of photo developing at its best; a just taken photo pops out into your hands and develops in just a matter of minutes.

I would have thought those little cameras died for good with all the new technology involving digital printing and developing we have now, never to be resurrected again. I was wrong!

A desire of having a photo of every guest that attended Rose and Devin's reception was my motive; the hired professional photographers said they would do their best to get as many candid shots as possible, but no guarantees on everyone. I began to search for some means of having instant photos...and let me tell you what I found.


 This is an instanx mini 8 camera made by Fuji. Very simple in design and function. Turn it on, push a button, a film pops out, and right before your eyes your watch your photo appear! So cool!!

We set up a little area at the reception, then the photos were displayed on ribbons attached to a large ribbon frame. You know when it gets down to it, it is the dear people, your honored guests, who come and celebrate a very special event with you that are the best part of it all.

whole wheat cinnamon rolls

Feeling rather "hobbity" today and wanted to parley loads of comfort in my home, so Charlotte and I decided to bake a pan of cinnamon rolls. I purposely made them smaller than usual so I could eat more, just not all at the same time, of course!

I love grinding my own soft wheat berries for rolls and cookies. Thus, the small flecks of flour everywhere! 

I use a Nutrimill. If you have never ground your own wheat, you are missing exceptional taste and nutritional benefits in your home baked goods. When I bake loaf bread, I use the Prairie Gold wheat berries instead of the soft. The soft is paler in color and a bit softer, making your flour quite lovely for baking.

crocheted edgings

 It is time to step aside of my usual posts "of the days before the wedding"; I'll add more of those posts  later.

Today I wanted to share some of the dainty edgings which I promised (sorta) I would share on a post recently. Both of these soft  flannel receiving blankets were gifts for a special mother-to-be at a baby shower I was delighted to attend this past weekend.

Gray Scalloped Edging:

 Aunt Lydia's Classic 10 crochet thread

#5 crochet hook

Mark every 1/2 inch all around the hem of the blanket; poke holes with your needle, then sew a blanket stitch around the entire edge. It will look like this when it is finished.

Single Crochet(SC) around the blanket.

 Chain(CH) 3, 2 Double Crochet(DC) in next sc. That will make a total of three stitches in the one sc stitch.

Ch 1 *SC in next ch, 3 DC in next chain, Ch 1*

Continue with this Pattern * until you get to the corners. 6 DC in each of the four corners.

Pink Scalloped Edging

SC around entire blanket stitch (after sewing your blanket stitch as in gray edging)

*3 DC in first ch, SC in next chain* Repeat.

At the corners, 5 DC

 In the corner of the pink polka-dotted blanket, you will notice I embroidered a simple chubby bird with a few lazy daisy flowers. I planned to use a sea foam green thread for the lace and bird, but when I found out this baby's colors were pink and gray, I decided to use light gray for the edging and a darker gray for the outline stitch of the bird.

 I hope she likes them...this little girl.

 I found one of Rose's receiving blankets, worn and tattered, tucked under her mattress when I went to move her bed several weeks ago. This blanket was hand sewn by a very special, older woman over eighteen years ago. Isn't that a happy thought, to think someone might find one of these blankets tucked in a comforting place years down the road? What a lovely story to be told!

a wedding shower tradition

Wedding showers are a tradition in the place I live. Showers are a wonderful means of getting together to celebrate an upcoming nuptial and to "shower" the bride-to-be with gifts that will be needed as she starts up her new home.

Claire, being the perfect host and having taken on the honor of being Rose's Matron-of-Honor, gave Rose her first shower one Saturday afternoon in November. She included many extra touches in her decorations and food choices.

Then the box of engraved thank you notes were opened, and Rose began the process of penning a handwritten note to everyone who had given kindly and generously to show their love and support of her.

the invitations

How do I go back and tell a significant story?

 Five months later a story shouts to be told which included huge planning culminating in a big day of worship and celebration on January tenth.

We ordered the invitations and a friend traveled on the busy highways in tough traffic to spend a few days with us. She sat and helped pen the invitations, stuff the envelopes, and stamp them for posting.

Then we waited for the responses to come in, which made the simple act of walking to the mailbox daily a grand treat.

December remembrance

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The spirit of Christmas which is love.
~Ada V. Hendricks

Moravian Candle Tea On December 5

On th sixth day of December, I was able to make a journey out of town and take Rose along too. My childhood friend's eldest son was getting married and I was bound and determined to attend the wedding. I do not plan to forget his anniversary since it is on my birthday. But when I returned on Sunday, Claire and Witt invited me over for birthday wishes; coffee served with one of my favorite cake choices, German Chocolate. They are sweet to me like that.

A program of strings played for the elderly residents of a local home.

The Widow's Luncheon was hosted in our home on December 19, which happened to be my husband's birthday .These gals are such fun!

Christmas morning

A new acquisition of my husband's demanded a family group picture.

A game of Apples to Apples after dinner rounded off our day of cheer and celebration.

Jesus is hope;

Jesus is peace;

Jesus is love.

Simple Woman's Daybook Resolution

Resolved- firm in purpose or intent; determined.

I should be more resolved to blog this year on a more regular basis. But honestly, I do not want blogging to become just another thing I must do. However, I did think it would be a wonderful resolution to begin this January week by joining in with the Simple Woman's Daybook. 

Outside my window...an upstairs view, "naked" takes on beauty as I gaze upon the tree's bareness; the oak trees still manage to hold onto some of their rusty brown leaves

I am thinking...about tonight's supper.  Frozen meatballs made and stored in the freezer are thawing with the intent to add them to a red tomato sauce and brown rice noodles

I am thankful... for the day's sunshine, making my afternoon walk a delight

I am wearing...black skirt, black tights, cream turtleneck and teal cardigan.

I am creating...flannel receiving blankets with crocheted edges for a special baby girl. I will share some pictures later.

I am venturing...nowhere else for the remainder of the day; an earlier trip out to drop Charlotte at piano while I stopped by the store for some needed items (like laundry detergent)

I am wondering...how Rose is doing today.

I am hoping...to get organized in space and mind this month

I am learning...to hope; to hold on and to let go...I know... an oxymoron of sorts

Around the house...my new sewing and crafting room is taking shape! I spent time in the closet today, placing bins of yarns on the shelf. I purchased a new rug for the middle of the floor on Saturday...love it!

In the kitchen...wheat berries were milled into flour this morning, waiting for me to make some bread.

I am pondering...next year's school choices for Charlotte

                                                    
I pray because the need flows out of me

all the time, waking and sleeping. 
 It doesn't change God, it changes me.

                                                 C.S Lewis

                                                   

           

a cup a tea while basking in the sunlight's beams

seven days

 A bouquet of white roses with blue delphiniums still grace my bedside table, one week later.

 My mind is having a hard time grasping it has been an entire week.