Merry Makings

On the seventh day before Christmas..........

A glorious afternoon spent making memories at a Mother/Daughter Christmas Tea.

Duets were played on the piano.


Crunchy pastry cups filled with delectable chicken salad served along side other tasty treats.


Spicy mulled cider simmering on the stove and then offered in red etched glass mugs.

And don't forget the presents! Soft hand knitted scarves, colorful stripped hats, embroidered pieced pillows and twisted wrist bracelets with intricate designs all made by the girls themselves.

Thank you Lord for my daughters.
And for allowing me the satisfaction of spending a part of my day with their lovely selves and in the company of other precious kindred spirits. Amen

Biscuit Maker's Granddaughter

On the eighth day before Christmas.......

.........Buttermilk biscuits were made for supper using my grandmother's red, wooden handled pastry cutter.

If this little gadget could talk it would tell of all the many batches of biscuits it has helped "cut" through the years. My grandmother made biscuits in the morning and once again in the evening without fail. She had a little pantry off her kitchen with a window that overlooked a handmade bird feeder. The shelf was low since my grandmother was a little woman with a stature of only five feet. On it rested a wooden board, a wooden rolling pin, the wooden handled pastry cutter and the biscuit cutter. Every morning she put together the ingredients for her biscuits, tossed a dusting of flour over the wooden surface and began the timeless movements of creating.....a humble batch of biscuits.

When my brothers, sister and I barreled into her house later on during the day, we could always anticipate finding cold biscuits setting on a plate on the kitchen counter. To us no other snack would be as special. It was only later, as a grown-up woman, that I realized she had a way of making the simple things seem divine even in a treat of leftover biscuits.



I love the heritage of carrying on the task of biscuit making. I by no means make them every day, but I can not think of any better way to say love than in a batch of biscuits!

Shopping

On the ninth day before Christmas.....

My husband and I finally went Christmas shopping, even if the night was cool and rainy.

Sensibility is the key to Christmas gift giving, so while our children do receive gifts from us, it is done in moderation. We always like to think about the three gifts Baby Jesus was given by the Wisemen and try to stay with that same idea when buying Christmas presents for our children.

My younger children watch very little TV so they are not as savvy about what the commercials and ads are attempting to ignite as the "wanta and gotta have monster". Of course, they do not live in a vacuum either, so choosing gifts they would like to have and of which they know we will approve is done without any difficulty whatsoever.

Just in case you are wondering, the carolers sit atop my piano in the living room. At one per year it took us six years to complete our collection. They make me smile and that's reason enough to pull them out every December.

A Few Exchanges

On the tenth day before Christmas.......

Mulling spices and scented candles filled the air with the smells of Christmas at the home of this year's hostess for the annual ornament exchange. A group of fabulous ladies ( fifteen including myself) got together and exchanged Christmas ornaments. And then we all ate ourselves silly, because that seems to be what ladies like to do when there is a spread of sweets and savories set before them.

For a brief while this afternoon a friend stopped by with her lovely daughters and while the girls laughed and talked, I showed her how to make a yo-yo. She was atingle with delight...... and she would like that word in describing her enthusiasm and joy....atingle.

Celebrating Advent

On the eleventh day before Christmas........

...... Christmas carols are played on the piano.

All the traditional favorites are played from the church hymnal I received many years ago as a result of perfect attendance in the Junior Choir. I own some lovely versions of Christmas piano music, but I find myself always reaching for and just settling into this comfortable hymnal, especially when we have singalongs.

...... As well as gathering around the piano to light the Advent candles as the Word according to Isaiah is read. Almost in hushed tones "Lo How A Rose Ere Blooming" is sung with a modicum of reverence.


O come let us adore Him!

Making pillows and quilting

On the twelfth day before Christmas......

Rose was busily sewing a pillow for a friend.

In Polished Cornerstones the girls drew names and the deal was to give a gift that you had made yourself. Rose made a pieced pillow. Many skills were required and learned while doing this craft. Choosing the pattern and fabrics, cutting the pattern, sewing on a machine, embroidering, and then the process required for the cording and backing.

I must make a huge confession here. I sat down to teach her the art of quilting the patches and since she had no interest whatsoever, I merrily quilted along until I completed the entire pillow! I couldn't help myself, it was beyond enjoyable.

Many years ago, in the years before the birth of my children, I quilted. I enrolled in a class at the community college where I made a full sized quilt completely by hand....every single stitch was pieced by hand and then quilted! I can't even believe it myself.

After the birth of my first son I would spend the winter months piecing and quilting pillows with the extra fabric leftovers. Sadly this was another thing that has fallen along the wayside.

I am itching to pick up my needle and begin quilting again. But it will most definitely be pieced on the machine this go round, I have nothing to prove. But first there is the baby afghan to finish since the wee one entered the world early this December morn.

His Light

" For behold, Darkness shall cover the Earth, and gross Darkness the Peoples;but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His Glory shall be seen upon thee." Isaiah 60:2


Looking forward this evening to what is for me the highlight of this Advent season......attending the Oratorio Society's full orchestra performance of Handel's Messiah. It has been an annual event for the members of my family for years and I have already mentioned to Charlotte that she shall be allowed to attend next year, when she is six.

December has the shortest days of the year as the darkness dissipates later in the morning and falls earlier in the evening. Christmas could only be celebrated during such a month with all the extra lights glimmering and glittering everywhere one happens to look. This month is just altogether brighter as it very well should be.

Early morning quiet times of solitude, prayer and scripture reading have moved to the amethyst toile rocker above. Actually this has been the case for several months when sitting outside was either too dark or too cold.

"Arise, Shine, for thy Light is come....."

dreaming and wishing upon

Who could forget those days of catalog dreaming? I receive a heap of glossy mail order magazines throughout the year, but at this time of year the flood is completely overwhelming. The children too are recipients of their fair share especially during this time of year. I call them the Dream and Wish books.

Upon their arrival in the mail Charlotte would spend an hour or so daily slowly turning the shiny pages mesmerized with all the possibilities. Dreaming and wishing.

The Sound of Christmas

While in the *Dollar Store* the other day, these Christmas CD's were discovered in a corrugated box display in the aisle. Instrumental music of piano, harp, and viola ready to be purchased for a dollar each. So three dollars poorer I emerged from the store with new listening music in the bag. (I figured for three dollars even if they were mediocre it was not too much of a loss.)

These CD's are superb! I have them so that whenever I walk into the kitchen all I must do is push a button and harmonious instrumental music trails throughout the room with the joyful sound of Christmas.

And that is exactly what I want these days, Christmas music flowing in the rooms of my house.

Birthday cake at its best

Every year I would drop subtle hints of what I truly wanted above all other gifts. Years would come and years would go; I was obviously not getting my wishes across even though I was the recipient of very nice gifts indeed. Finally, I determined a better plan of action so I point blank asked for a birthday cake. It worked for a couple of years. If it was remembered ahead of time, a special cake was ordered from a nice bakery. Other times a hurried stop by the grocery store would suffice. And once it was even after supper and my husband grabbed his coat and headed out the door only to return 30 minutes later with a cake.

These days if I desire a birthday cake, I happily make it myself.

I love it when the cookbook makes it so decisive for you.


I was serenaded with "Forever Young" this evening. They know who bakes the cake!

Covered Buttons

Remember this sweater?





After completing it some while back I had in my mind to find the perfect buttons. I was thinking covered buttons would add a pretty touch But alas, I started hunting for store bought ones, but without success whatsoever. So began my venture in seeking for the perfect fabric ( must stick with the original plan). In the attic I discovered an old piece of fabric inherited from my parents before their moving days. Might just be the perfect fabric for the perfect buttons.

It was. I love my sweater which reminds me of the sea.