April Showers (Blessings)

We celebrated my middle granddaughter's birthday this past weekend.

She is seven. She has a big heart and is a little fashion diva. She is a good sister, too.

Everyone loves her.

I made some Black Forest Cherry Cupcakes. They turned out pretty good.

My backyard looks an unkempt bag lady, but that's okay.

She is surrounded by purple flowers.

The downtown park in Spring. I love this time of year, so I

can take pictures of the cherry blossoms.

The Japanese bridge

Feeding the fish

Sunshine and Daffodils

We have had some gorgeous weather these past few days. Sunshine. Spring. 70 degree temperatures. Longer days, thanks to daylight savings. Daffodils blooming.

 

And now the forecast is for rain and cold tomorrow. Darn! I knew it couldn't last!

 

 

A good friend of mine sent me this Lenten cross along with the readings

and accessories. I think it is the nicest gift that anyone ever gave me.

 

 

Last weekend I took my three oldest grandchildren (ages 5,6 & 9) to see a local high school production of "Shrek, the Musical". It was hilarious and so much fun! I was so proud of the

kids because they were very well-behaved through the (almost) three hour production.

One of the characters, who played the midget Lord Farquard (on his knees, in a costume), intrigued my grandson. He asked me, "Mawmaw, is he a grown-up?" This was their first play and they were enchanted  by the elaborate costumes and dance numbers.

 

 

 

 

Breathing

From "Daily Strengths" These simple words are so profound.

"I do not know when I have had happier times in my soul, than when I have been sitting at work, with nothing before me but a candle and a white cloth, and hearing no sound but that of my own breath, with God in my soul and heaven in my eye....I rejoice in being exactly what I am, - a creature capable of loving God, and who, as long as God lives, must be happy. I get up and look for a while out of the window, and gaze at the moon and stars, the work of the Almighty hand. I think of the grandeur of the universe, and then sit down, and think myself one of the happiest beings in it.
(A poor Methodist woman, 18th century)

How to Make a Pillowcase Dress

This is my first attempt in writing sewing instructions. If you have simple sewing experience this is super simple. I am a self-taught seamstress. My husband actually taught me how to sew in our early marriage. He had taken Home Economics in high school. I was not very domestic at that time.
I have collected several pillowcases through the years, picking them up at thrift stores. I prefer 100% cotton, but most are cotton/poly blends. Of course, it goes without saying that you don't want them to be faded or worn and pretty ginghams or pastel patterns work best for little girls.

I found this pretty yellow pillowcase at Goodwill. Someone

has lovingly cross-stitched the trim. This is perfect for a sewing project and

literally only costs pennies to make.

Some people prefer to use a pattern, especially if you are making a brand new dress. If you use a

pillowcase a pattern is not necessary. This pattern uses wide single-fold bias tape

for the arms and casing, but you can also make your own if you have enough fabric.

You can use 5/8 ribbons for the ties (approximately 2 1/2 yards) or make your own ties

from the same or contrasting fabric.

After deciding the length of your dress

fold over the top part of the pillowcase and

cut straight across.

Fold the pillowcase and cut out the arm holes, leaving room

at the top for the casing.

With the leftover fabric fold on the diagonal

and cut your bias strips. I am an impatient seamstress;

I don't like to pin or measure if I don't have to.

Afterall, this is not a formal dress.

Cut tiny notches in the curved arm holes to make

it easier to sew on the bias strips.

Fold down the top part of the dress 1/2 inch and press

and then fold over again approximately 1 1/4 inch to form

the casing. Cut your ribbons 1 yard each or shorter for a

smaller garment.

You can use a safety pin to pull the ribbon through the casing.

Adjust on both sides and tie into bows.

In less than an hour you will have a pretty little

dress to give away to a favorite little girl or donate

to a charity.

A Childhood Christmas in Germany

As I have written before, I lived with my grandmother in Germany until I was six years old. I still have vivid memories of those years living with her, especially during the holidays.

Stollen

 Lebkuchen

Anise oookies

Hazelnut cookies

Bars of Swiss Chocolate

Oranges wrapped in tissue

Frost on the windows

New hats and mittens

A freshly cut Christmas tree

Narrow streets with snow piled high

Softly fallen snow twinkling beneath the stars

Fire burning brightly in the wood stove

Sausages wrapped in butcher paper

Crusty Bauern Brot (farmer's rye bread)

My uncle pretending to be St. Nicholas

Yummy Apple Strudel fresh from the oven

Church bell ringing at midnight on Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!

Frohe Weihnachten!

The little town I was born in.

Christmas Crafts and Cookies

Guess what I've been doing? Yes, baking cookies and making crafts with the grandchildren.

 

 Here are the birdhouses that the children painted and decorated. Of course, I had to help the two-year old. She was more interested in painting herself;)

 

"Rudolph" is nothing more than an inexpensive washcloth and a bar of soap.

I helped the kids make these as little gifts. They loved them!

A Christmas Memory

This time of year always takes me back to childhood memories of Christmases spent in Germany. From ages 11-15 we lived in Landstuhl, Germany in government housing, or quarters as we called them. Landstuhl was on top of a hill and was about as close to a picturesque German town as you would find.

It had woods and forests to explore and an old historic tower to climb. The caretaker sold little drinks like Capri Suns for a few pfennigs. Landstuhl had the largest military hospital in Germany. In fact, many of the military Dads were assigned to the hospital or to local artillery batteries (my father was one of them). At Christmas the post would be lit up from all the Christmas lights and decorations on the balconies. My mother would prepare for the holidays in early December, baking dozens of cookies that she put away. Of course we would sneak a few to sample. A fresh tree was put up with tinsel and old-fashioned bulb lights about a week before Christmas. Oma, my German grandmother, usually made the trip by train, arriving in her fur hat and coat, for once not wearing her everyday apron, bearing gifts for all of us. Christmas music played throughout our house from my parents’ stereo and to this day Jim Reeves Christmas album is one of my all-time favorites. The house was filled with family and friends. The air was full of joy and anticipation. Our Christmas gifts were simple, but plentiful. New pajamas; a sweater from Oma, books for me, games and puzzles, and one year, a guitar that I’d been longing for. We hoped for snow on Christmas day, so all the kids who got sleds would head to the “hill” to go sledding. We didn’t come home until the dim hours of the afternoon, brushing off the snow and ready to thaw out.

Christmas Around the House

I am posting a few more pictures of what I call "Christmas Vignettes". My house is rather small, so I only put up a little tree, but I love to decorate around the house.

I like to frame favorite Christmas cards and place

them around the house.

In the foyer

My $5.00 bargain tree all dressed up

Old Christmas card made into an ornament.

Nativity snowglobes

Tree angel

My favorite doll ornament

More Things to Be Thankful For

I am thankful that my two daughters are close and stick up for one another. I always told my girls not to carry a grudge because your sister will be the closest adult relationship you have after your parents, husband and children. They are 30 and 33 years old and have very different personalities, but have maintained a close, sisterly friendship. The cousins, all four of them, also get along and even accept the scrappy two-year old who is a little force to be reckoned with.

I am thankful for my home and quiet days like today. Believe it or not, I like puttering around the house and doing household chores and love the smell of Pine Sol. It was cold and windy all day, so staying home was a good option.

I am thankful for my church. I made it to the 11 o'clock service today and the sermon was on thankfulness and testing our character. There was a skit to go along with the sermon and had a really good message. I am thankful for the many people who make it possible to open the doors on Sunday morning; for the minister to prepare a Bible reading and sermon; for the music director and organist to arrange the music; for the ushers and childcare workers and communion servers and acolytes, all who come faithfully, so that the church members can worship God and we even have a choice of three services.

I am thankful for plenty of food to eat. I went to the grocery store after church to stock up on baking supplies and food for the holidays and a few gift items. Not only did I have enough money to pay for my purchases, I had barely enough room in my pantry and refrigerator after putting everything away.
My cup surely runneth over.

I am thankful that I have to get up in the morning and go to a job. And  this week I only have to work three days. I meet many people in my line of work (financial service representative) who work two and even three jobs, many who do not have the luxury of getting off on the holidays. My son-in-law is a law enforcement officer and is one of them.

Fall Wanderings

This past Sunday was a perfect Fall day. The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and the

trees were bursting with brilliant colors. After church I decided to take my

grandchildren to the local State Park on the mountain.

We collected leaves and went for a walk, the children finding sticks

to use as their "walking sticks". They wanted to go on one of the

steep trails, but I said, "No, it looks too dangerous."

A middle-aged grandmother with three children on

a rocky trail screams 911. My oldest granddaughter reminded

me that if I fell down the mountain she could call her mother's cell phone.

 

 

 

 

 

Love this view.

 

My grandson acting silly.

Reading the Bible

I heard a minister once say that we may be the only "Bible" that someone may read. Those words have stayed with me all of these years. It's a great analogy. What kind of Bible" would I be? Would I be a Bible that is covered in dust, sitting on a bookshelf, with pages barely turned? Or would I be well-worn, with pages crimped and high-lighted and notes written in the margins? Would my life's experiences speak for themselves while still praising God? We are the witnesses of our Christian faith everyday and never know who is watching, who is reading our "Bible".

The Train Station

The train station near the German town where I was born

There I was, just a little girl, holding the hand of my grandmother as we stepped onto the train.

The train cars were filled with all the people I knew: aunts and uncles, cousins. As the train left the station the scenery changed. Cities with tall buildings and crowded streets changed to pastoral scenes with cows grazing in the meadows. There was even a castle in the distance. Night came and then the dawn. Sometimes the train engineer would blow his whistle and we would pull into a station.

At the first stop my uncle got off. Uncle Angus always brought me bars of chocolate when he came to visit. He was just a young man when he stepped off the train. Some other people got on and took his seat.

The trip continued and soon my beautiful Aunt Maria had to get off. She was as beautiful as a movie star. I still remember her with a scarf tied around her blonde hair, wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, driving her convertible.

Further along the trip my grandmother finally got off. She didn't say good-bye. I saw her walking through the train station wearing her fur coat and hat and carrying her handbag, a little old woman, barely five feet tall.

Still more people filled the cars, familiar faces, friends and relatives. We talked and laughed and cried.

At one stop my brother-in-law got off, leaving my sister and her baby to continue the trip alone. At the next stop three of my cousins left the trip early.

Still, I was enjoying the trip. My car was filled with my mother, my husband and our children. But soon my mother had to depart the journey. We were sad to see her go. It was hard to enjoy the scenery with my sweet mother not with me any longer.

Further down the line my husband had to leave the train unexpectedly. We hugged him and said good-bye and watched him walk away.

And before long I said good-bye to another uncle and an aunt and other relatives who stepped off the train when I wasn't looking.

The cars were practically empty now. But soon the train pulled into a station and little children got on board. They made me smile and kept me company.

And the scenery was breathtaking.

A Perfect Fall Day

It was a perfect Fall day. My grandchildren and I went

to the Botanical Gardens to see the Scarecrow Trail.

 

Pirate Tree House

A peek through the trees

Lily pads

My granddaughter took this picture.

Pretty Dahlias

Miniature Train