A Time to stop, and taste the herbs

I could be forlorn about forgetting to take pictures of today's event, but because the day was wrapped in what makes for such good stuff, any disappointment dissipates like puffs of smoke.
Another luncheon, this time a meal shared with the mothers and daughters of the Bible Study I lead with three of Rose's peers.


Everything was prepared with herbs in mind carried with a vintage flair. I am partial to chilled soups for summer luncheons, therefore, gazpacho was served in soup cups, all in a different china pattern. Rosemary buttermilk biscuits with butter meshed with oregano, thyme and parsley; deviled eggs with chives; cantaloupe with prosciutto, mint and goat cheese, rounded off the menu. And for dessert, lavender pound cake with a touch of lemon cream cheese icing and sweet plump raspberries on the side.

The girls went upstairs while the mothers sat and talked. Time stopped in our world for a while as we sat around the dining room table, but upon glancing at the clock, we regretfully acknowledged it was time to go........

After it was all cleaned and washed, this is one of the few photographs I have to remember the day. My wedding crystal, all rather lined up as soldiers, don't you think.?

Dilly Days

My days are filled with the irresistible things of summertime and it seems computer time has proven to be a back burner item. Life is flapping briskly around me just as freshly washed laundry on the clothesline, and I adore the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and celebrations that surround me.

But I certainly have not forgotten any of you and your lovely places to visit. I am looking forward to spending a little time catching up these next few days.

We have been on a party mode lately. Celebrations abound.....a graduation celebration with jumps and splashes in the pool and hungry bellies being filled with grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, a birthday celebration catered by twilight poolsides accompanied by a guitarist singing the songs of the 70's and 80's, and an anniversary celebration with a last minute switch from the outside stone patio to the house, the kind where everyone must grab something and come inside due to approaching thunderstorms and threatening downpours. This was cooperation putting its best foot forward. I carried the lighted floating candles dancing in a crystal bowl, it warmed my hands and face and made for such romance. A friend's twenty-fifth hosted by their five beautiful daughters.

Several years back I spent a day in June creating lavender wands. I thought I would share with you how to make them. Not exactly tutorial material, but nonetheless, here it is in a nutshell.

First, gather long stems of lavender in even numbers starting with at least 20 stems. Next tie a ribbon or band around the bottom of the flowers.

Then begin gently bending the stems back over the lavender flowers.

Now for the weaving, using a 1/4 to 1/2 inch ribbon, weave over two stems, under two stems to approximately an inch beyond the flowers.


Here you may tie a bow or leave a pretty knot with the dangling ribbon. These wands will last for years, only needing touchups of essential lavender oil from time to time. Now summertime can reside in your linen closet amongst your clean sheets all winter long!

Going "Green"

It is taking years, but even I am taking notice that mainstream America is gradually resorting to more eco-friendly habits. My son intrigued me with a conversation the other day regarding the future of grocery store bags with the possibility of a tax levied for their use. I found this pattern here and decided why not sew a bag I would enjoying stuffing with celery, yogurt and other sundry items.

I deviated from the pattern somewhat by adding a lining, liking the contrast of the two fabrics and the extra sturdiness it provided to the bag.

When I told Rose I was making a grocery store bag she replied,"Mama, are you going green?" Suddenly I felt so with it.

Little Pressings

I am not a list maker per se. Little scraps of paper are not usually safe laying around my house due to my tendency to clear away, to pick up, for visual neatness in my home. The fact that I so readily dispose of paper drives my husband crazy. Yet I remind him we would live in a home with 98% scrap paper and 2% people if I wasn't so ruthless with the vast array of paper accumulating daily.

But I have been known to throw away important things too, but we will not go into that this very moment. I truly believes it all equals out in the long run and it keeps my home more orderly.

However, I do write down things in my journal that I believe are" pressing". By this I mean things that I would like to get done sometime in the near future. They are pressing on my mind as things that would be nice to be accomplished if possible. I rather think of them as wildflowers gathered on a late summer afternoon and pressed between the pages of a huge dictionary for later use. You know "pressings."

This weeks pressings:

• cut more lavender stems
• bake a loaf of whole wheat bread using new Pampered Chef loaf pan
• cut out one of Charlotte's summer dresses
• make a trip to the local yarn shop and buy yarn for the sweater I am itching to knit
• organize the stack of books laying around my bedroom, from here to there ( apparently I do not have the same problem with books as I do with scraps of paper)
• make a fresh batch of hummingbird feed

Now that it is Friday I reviewed my list and I can say all were accomplished except the making of the loaf of bread, probably due to my husband bringing home some delicious bread from Whole Foods this week, and the cutting out a dress for Charlotte.





And knitting this sweater is proving to be as fulfilling as expected. Lovely yarn, Debbie Bliss Prima in rich hydrangea blue.

Thirty-one years ago today....

As I look through the wedding albums of brides today, I can only manage to sigh. The photographs I flip through are amazingly creative and outstandingly beautiful.

The year was 1978 and this photo from my wedding album was taken by the best photographer my town had to offer. It was considered to have special effects.Love that endures over a lifetime is not a result of a decision made once; but one that is made over and over again, the same choice..... the same person. I would make the same choice I made thirty-one years ago as I stood at the church's altar in the presence of God and many witnesses and said," I Do".

Happy Anniversary, Love!

Letters to a friend

The art of penning letters: sounds divinely grand; on pretty, fancy stationary: an item to be desired; but honestly speaking, writing a letter on plain white notebook paper works beautifully and as an added bonus penciled drawings throughout the letter, if time affords, give charm that can not be purchased with any amount of money.

There's a shoebox in my closet filled with handwritten letters from a dear friend.We have enjoyed years of writing letters to one another, so much sharing back and forth. I remind her that when she becomes "famous", her family must be informed to contact me because I have bits of her life in print that would help write her biography. Bits of life..... rather like some blogs I imagine. Family, husband and children(her six, my four), recipes, gardening, knitting, sewing, moving to different locations, animals and pets, vacations, books read, almost any subject is open to be expressed at any given time.

When I receive a letter from her I find a comfortable spot, sit myself down and immediately indulge myself with every single word written on those pages. I have smiled, laughed, sighed and cried upon reading her letters. She speaks to me through these words and unlike computers, it is in her own handwriting and that is what makes it have a poignancy of delight upon which there is no substitute.

There is a favorite biography of mine entitled, More Love To Thee, The Life and Letters of Elizabeth Prentiss by George Lewis Prentiss. A large part of this book includes letters written by her and to her from family members, friends and acquaintances. These letters make her real and you are able to relate to the diurnality of her life as you read. You see her strengths and weakness, her struggles and her victories.

It is all worth writing, with a pen in hand on paper.

June Sweetness

Happy June! The month with the longest days and the kindest weather. A month of anniversaries (mine), fresh herbs in abundance, the reading of books aplenty, eating al fresco, and catching fireflies.

Lighter schedules are certainly needed, made and adjusted but summer sweetness rolls along merrily filling us with hours of extra goodness.


The lavender is heavenly and the harvesting has begun. The friendly bees buzz around me as I snip the stems, my mouth waters with the thoughts of lavender honey.

I love the month of June....forever and always.

A Kirsten Dream Birthday

You know there is a popular saying applied to several things in life, especially regarding children, simply stated, "May all your dreams come true".

This is something parents like to do for their children

as much as it is humanly possible.

Charlotte's birthday dreams were easily met this year....a Kirsten American Girl doll.

Did you notice the smile on her face that absolutely could not be erased? Now my dreams have come true too!

Happy sixth birthday sweet Charlotte.

Charlotte's Corgi Serenade

Who could sing it better this night than the corgis? Enjoy! I'll return with details tomorrow.

corgis singing happy birthday

At Camp

"Hello Mudda, hello Fadda,
Here I am at Camp Granada.
Camp is very entertaining,
And they say we'll have some fun if it stops raining."

A package of goodies: baked brownies, candy and a favorite stuffed horse, was sent off this afternoon, following the letter that was posted earlier this morning to our first-time camper, Rose. She was very hesitant about leaving us when the time came to head to the mountains to drop her off yesterday. But full assurance was given in regard to our camping days of how much fun was to be had at camp. Sometimes I find that my children need an extra dose of encouragement to try new things and then their confidence is boosted and they consequently experience a wonderful time.

But there are predictions of rain all week, so I "made" her pack a raincoat. I am thinking every time she pulls it around her shoulders she will possibly thank me in her heart. Mothers just know these things.