Thursday, December 26, 2013

The View From the Bed



My favorite view in my home is the view from the bed.  Each night when I climb into bed to read for awhile before I sleep, I first stop and take in the view. 

The copper dry sink belonged to my grandmother, and when my step-father went into the assisted living Alzheimer's home, I brought this treasured piece of furniture home as it was too big for his room.



When I take in the view, I see all of the things I treasure most.  Favorite pictures of family and friends from long ago who no longer exist in this physical world of ours.  Favorite books - the kind you recommend but do not lend.  Wonderful treasures made by treasured friends.  Somehow being surrounded by these things and seeing them before I sleep, comforts my soul.  It reminds me of how lucky I am - what a beautiful and good life God has given me.  It reminds me of who to pray for when I say my prayers. 

Why not make yourself a little comfort corner in your home - it can be a place of peace.  May you have many blessings in the new year.


Sunday, December 8, 2013


My sweet mother-in-law passed today at the age of 93 - Mable Jean Cooper.



She went to join her beloved husband, John, on his birthday.  Bet he loved his gift today in heaven!
 
 
Please keep Mr. Whimsey in your prayers this week as he travels to Pennsylvania for her funeral.
 

Monday, November 25, 2013

So Blinded by Beauty That I Could Not See

Once upon a time in a far off land - well not really far off - just about 2 hours north of me in Ranger, Georgia - is a wonderful cabin at the top of a mountain with a beautiful view.  The second weekend of November - five of us trooped up there (Lois, Kristen, Teresa, Erma and I) and had a crafting weekend - for you see this cabin was set up by the beautiful Melanie especially for crafting. 



I catered the long weekend and had all sorts of fresh and sinful dishes planned.  It came time for lunch on Friday and although I searched the wonderfully appointed kitchen (and I mean this kitchen has everything you could ever need for cooking!) high and low for a knife - ANYTHING but a butter knife - even a tiny paring knife would do - all I could find was a vegetable peeler and a cheese slicer.  Now I ask you - have you ever tried to slice a tomato with a butter knife?  I developed quite a knack for stabbing each "slice" with the vegetable peeler and then sawing away with the butter knife until I had something that kind of resembled a slice of tomato.  The brie was another story though.  And that is how it went for Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, and Saturday lunch. 

 
After lunch on Saturday, Erma all of a sudden said, "Hey, wanna borrow my switchblade?"
 
 
"Uh, sure Erma, thanks!  I'll see if that works better than a butter knife at dinner."  And then Kristen and I took off for parts unknown - actually not parts unknown - up towards Blue Ridge to an artist's open house.  When we returned several hours later - after deciding NOT to drop in on a wedding we saw advertised on the road, and not stopping at an inside yard sale at a very dicey looking trailer in the middle of a field - Teresa was laughing wildly when we walked in the door.   
 
She just kept saying, "Go in the kitchen and look at the crackers."  I looked all over the place for ants or something in the cracker boxes and didn't see a one.  By now Teresa was almost having a "pee in your pants moment" and said, "Look at the crackers."  I said, "I'M LOOKING AT THE CRACKERS - WHAT am I supposed to be seeing?"  Whut whoa - maybe this?
 
 
Hey - the case is black and merged into the refrigerator - what can I say?
 
 
I must say it was much easier preparing Saturday dinner without using the vegetable peeler and butter knife!!!
 
So here are some pictures of the cabin - it really is lovely.  You can find more information about Sweetbriar Ridge here.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lois, I'm telling you this scarf is long enough!
 
 
 
 
Unfortunately I was too busy trying to find a knife to take any pictures of the crafting bwahahahahahaha.  But the ladies each made an appliqued wool piece and started a memory spool.  Kristen worked on her quilts and she and Teresa made angels out of books - really cool.  Erma was crocheting and Lois was working on paper flowers.  When Melanie came on Sunday, she was also able to get the wool applique started and her memory spool mostly done.  And me - well it was a very successful weekend for crafting - I was able to make two stockings for my grandkids and get most of the work done on seven different Flat Bettys.
 
Oh and if you'd like the recipe for the crack rolls that we had for breakfast on Saturday morning, just let me know and I'll be glad to send you the recipe.  They were sooooooo good!
 
And now on a somber note - the week following, we had to have our Kitty Boy put down.  He was a feral cat who adopted us several years ago and became fairly tame.  He was a real character and although I'm sad, I know that we gave him a very nice life the past few years.  We put a cat door into our garage door and he had a heated dog bed in the garage.  The rocking chair on the front porch was one of his favorite sleeping spots.  He was well loved. 
 
 
Rest in peace Kitty Boy.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Catching Up - Maybe

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted - you'd think I had won the lottery and was away on a world vacation or something LOL  NOT!

OK some catching up to do.  September just passed by in a blur.  October is almost there.  Mr. Whimsey and I had some visitors to get ready for this month and they've already been and gone.  Ro and Jimmy from Ireland are on a long visit to the US and graced us with their presence weekend before this.  Let's see, they arrived on Thursday and on Friday we went to Stately Oaks in Jonesboro, GA for a little history (since history is what they came to see).  That was really fun - I've been before but it's always interesting to hear what the guides have to say.  On Saturday we went to Oakland Cemetery (now I've lived here since 1969 and would you believe have never made that visit?).  It is absolutely lovely and Mr. Whimsey and I want to go back and walk around some more - it's a beautiful place to visit - Margaret Mitchell, Bobby Jones, and many other famous and not-so-famous people are buried there.  You could spend the whole day!  Before that visit we ate lunch at Six Feet Under which is directly across the street.  Yes, it's really called that and has fabulous food!  And being a pub - Jimmy and Mr. Whimsey were in their element!  Then on Sunday we went to the Grant Park Farmer's Market which I dearly love.  There are wonderful veggies, breads, home-made sausages, you name it, they have it.  My daughter and son-in-law who are organic farmers have a booth there so Ro and Jimmy were able to meet them.  On Monday they left for the remainder of their trip - down through Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.  Right now they are in New Orleans and are just loving it.  We expect them back around next weekend and they will fly home from Atlanta.

And speaking of Mr. Whimsey - helping find the route in the atlas for their trip south - wait, wait, is HE LOOKING AT HIS NOSE???



An update on Kitty Boy - this was a month or so ago when he was snoozing up on the dead ornamental grass - so funny - all stretched out.

 


About two weeks ago he got into a whale of a fight and came home completely battered - ripped ears, eye bleeding, nose scratched badly.  He looked like a prize fighter!  Somehow it seems to have healed pretty well without a vet trip. 

And this one I just label "None for me???  Not even a mouthful???  Not a crumb???  Oh PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE???"  That's Buddy on the left, Shadow in the middle, and Lucy in a comfortable begging position LOL


So this weekend is the annual Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain Park, GA and Mr. Whimsey and I went bright and early.  Understand that the cold and I don't get along - heck I get hives when I walk down the frozen food aisle at the grocery store.  So leggings under my heaviest jeans, a thick long sleeved cotton top, socks and sneakers, my longest heaviest winter coat, gloves, and a very thick scarf kept me from totally shivering - yeah you guys up North laugh but it was under 40 last night and under 60 and I'm cold!  Anyway, once we got through the gate and started walking around it wasn't bad - still cold but at least the wind wasn't blowing.  Trust me, if you go to the site I've marked - these people weren't walking around today - LOL - they were at one of the other fairs during the summer in other states!

I think this year's was the absolute best so far.  The booths were decorated and inviting and I saw many many things I would have loved had I really won that lottery LOL.  Usually I try to save and buy one real treasure (and of course a few small things which I can't mention because they are Christmas gifts).  But Mr. Whimsey spotted this one and we just had to have it.  An old wagon unlike any other I've seen - I'm thinking possibly hand made or rebuilt at some point in it's life.   The only thing wood is the platform - all of the rest (except the wheels of course) is wonderfully rusted metal.  Isn't it a gem?


The wood was plain but of course I had to add my little touch to it and stain/paint the top, then sand it down.  I just love it and it will hold something or other - not sure what yet.

OK so that sort of catches you up on my life.  Hope you've been having a wonderful autumn - trees are just starting to turn and drop leaves here but I'm hoping on my trip up to NC to see my step-father tomorrow we'll see some beautiful trees!   Blessings to you!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

A Murder of Halloween Crows


What is a group of crows called?  The most widely used term is "murder." A group of crows can also be called a flock, muster or storytelling of crows.

This is based on the folk tale that crows form tribunals to judge and punish the bad behavior of a member of the flock. If the verdict goes against the defendant, that bird is killed (murdered) by the flock. The basis in fact is probably that occasionally crows will kill a dying crow who doesn't belong in their territory or much more commonly feed on carcasses of dead crows. Also, both crows and ravens are associated with battlefields, medieval hospitals, execution sites and cemeteries (because they scavenged on human remains). In England, a tombstone is sometimes called a ravenstone.  However, if crows weren't around, our highways, medians, and country sides would be littered with remains.  So they do have a good purpose in life.

Now, the murder of Halloween crows that I'm speaking of wouldn't think of cleaning up the countryside - they are much too posh for that.  I went to a very fun crafting retreat this past weekend and these were little Halloween gifties for the gals.

 

Twyla Twa was born in 1941 and is an American crow dancer and choreographer who lives and works in New York City.  As a young crow  she spent a few months each year living with her Quaker grandcrows in Indiana.  From the time she was 8, she performed with her family at a drive-in movie theater on Route 66 in Rialto.   They would be the opening act before the movie.  Lining up in a row across the top of the screen, she and her younger sister Twanette and her twin brothers Stanley and Stanford, would kick up their legs and fly in perfect circles to entertain the movie-goers.  In 1965 she formed her own dance murder of crows called Twyla Twa Dancers and has been a flying success ever since.  As she so famously said, "Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

 
Edith Piaf was born Edith Giovanna Gassion and was one of the most celebrated French singers.  She became widely regarded as France’s national diva, her specialty being ballads of love, loss and sorrow.  Her most famous song was “La Vie en rose”.  Piaf, an argot colloquialism for “crow” was a nickname she received 20 years after she was born.  Edith’s mother abandoned her at birth, and she lived for a short time with her maternal
crowmother.  Before he enlisted with the French Army in 1916 to fight World War I (by carrying secret messages in his beak), her father took her to his mother who ran a brothel in Normandy.  There, prostitutes helped look after Piaf.  As a teenager, she not only sang but was a part-time acrobat, flying circles around all of the other crows.  Although Edith had a brilliant career, her personal life was very hard and her last words were “Every damn fool thing you do in this life, you pay for.”
 
 

Juanita Growing Thunder Crow, born in 1969, is an award-winning Assinigoine-Sioux bead crow and porcupine quill worker.  Juanita learned her skills from her mother and has been beading since the age of three.  She gathers her own quills from freshly killed porcupines, then washes and dyes them, using natural dyes such as bloodroot, blackberries, and wolf moss.    Sorting the quills by color and size is the lengthiest step in the process.  The quills are then softened in a bath of warm water, and Juanita flattens them with her own beak before creating intricate patterns on moose or deer hide.  She is especially expert at this because of her long luxurious pointed beak.  In addition she is adept at rolling beads of clay and using nature’s dyes with which to color them.  She has made a very good living for herself and her family by selling beaded items at market.
 
 
 
 
Queen Crow of Samhain - Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced "sah-win"). The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.  For the pagan Celt, the essence of the universe and all its creativity was female, women were the spiritual and moral pivot.  The mother goddess and all her personifications of fertility, love and healing was an essential basis of their very role in the world.  Women feature prominently in Celtic myth and their goddesses occupied positions that represented women of practical, everyday Celtic life.  they were free to bear arms, become Druids and engage in war.  Queen Crow is carrying her friend Sunshine who will weave a web of jewels at the Samhain festival.
 
 
Poor Lady Crowdiva - I've lost her tale.  But it is told (although the story is said to be implausible by modern historians) she did ride through the streets with her very long ribbon hair covering her naked body.  Supposedly Lady Crowdiva took pity on the people of Coventry who were suffering terribly under her husband's oppressive taxation.  Weary of her entreaties to change the taxes, he said he would grant her request if she would strip naked and rider through the streets of the town.  She did so after issuing a proclamation that all persons should stay indoors and shut their windows.  Just one person in the town, a tailor ever afterwards known as Peeping Tom, disobeyed her proclamation. In the story, Tom bores a hole in his shutters
so that he might see Crowdiva pass, and is struck blind. In the end, Crowdiva's husband keeps his word and abolishes the onerous taxes.  In any event she was fully clothed at the retreat!
 




 
 
 
 
 




 

 



 





Monday, August 26, 2013

Raleigh - One More Example of ...

I usually don't discuss politics or religion in this blog but in reading the headlines today, this just has to be said.  Where in the heck have the morals and the compassion gone in this country?  This is just ridiculous and another example of a city trying to hide their homeless.  I can see, maybe, if they gave the church a week to find another place, but ... well just read the story.  What a sad situation Raleigh, NC!



Monday, July 29, 2013

Fall, it is a coming!

Not that I don't like summer - although this has been a really soggy Georgia summer - my veggies have nearly all drank themselves to death...but today was just beautiful.  When I left work today it was warm but not unbearably so, the sky was blue blue blue, and a nice breeze was blowing.  All things that remind me that fall isn't far away and fall is my absolute favorite time of year. 

So many fun things to see and do beginning with Folk Fest the weekend of August 17th (which I KNOW is still summer but it kind of kicks off the season).  It's so inspirational to see the fabulous creations and wish I had just won the lottery LOL 

Next (still in August - yes I know it's still summer but...) a fun retreat sponsored by Miz Gloria Primbody up in the north Georgia mountains at a beautiful cabin made just for crafting.  Great food, fun people, and lots more inspiration.

Then a two week vacation from work - I don't think I've ever taken two full weeks off work in my whole life.  Not going anywhere but hope to get some things done at home that I've put off forever as well as a little studio re-do.  Oh and helping a friend organize her basement crafting area and organizing is right down my alley!

Then the beginning of October working a day or two at a local Habitat for Humanity build.  Sure it's work but it's really fun too - I've done many of them and enjoyed every one (except maybe for the one with the million gnats in south Georgia LOL).

And then the last weekend of October (26th) there is my favorite festival of all time - the Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain.  You can find amazing creations as well as the necessities you need to craft with - love that place!

And going into November - another craft retreat (held by moi) at the crafting cabin up in the north Georgia mountains.  It should still be beautiful up there in early November.  Can't wait to see it in the fall!

So lots to look forward to in the next few months.  Now if I could only win that lottery!  Oh wait, to win you have to play.  Oh well...

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Pineapple Sage - YUM!



What a difference four months makes!  See the tiny little plant on the left side of the picture below?

 

That is one small pineapple sage plant.  All I can say is pineapple sage must love soggy, humid, steamy weather like we've been having since spring sprung here in Georgia!  Because look at it now!

 
Yes, that is still only one plant LOL  Since I can't possibly use that much fresh sage for cooking, I'm going to have to get out there and cut it back and dry the leaves. 
 
Pineapple sage makes a wonderful tea but even better - get some really great pasta (I'm partial to the fig ravioli from Antonio's pasta stand at the Grant Park Farmer's Market in Atlanta).  Slowly brown some butter and when all the milk solids have burned off and it's turning a nice golden shade, roll up some pineapple sage leaves tightly and slice them across so that you have shreds.  Toss them into that browned butter and they will crisp up in seconds.  Then pour that over the pasta and add some parmesan.  Oh boy - can you say heaven? 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

The Bench That Almost Wasn't


Vacation week at home – what better time than to do a project that has been on the back burner forever.  I’m determined to make a bench for my entryway.  I have a bench that belonged to my step-father but it’s 44 inches long and I can’t have anything over 38 inches in that space (and that is pushing it).  But I’ve always loved the keyhole legs on that bench.

So off to Lowes I go and get wood, pegs, feet – all the little things I need to make this very simple box bench happen.  Sit down and actually draw a picture figuring if I plan it, I’ll have to measure correctly without just doing that as I go which is my usual mode for creating.  After carefully measureing each piece exactly as planned before cutting, I figured out where the holes should be drilled for the pegs.  All ready to go.

 

Mr. Whimsey decided I needed help and he would drill the holes – oh my.  There were a total of 24 holes/pegs planned.   Can Mr. Whimsey hold the drill straight while he’s drilling?  If you look at the second to the last picture in the post – you’ll find the answer to that.  But we had holes and we had pegs. 

 


OK, next idea?   “I wish we could just cut some inches out of the bench we already have,” said I.  “Oh sure,” said Mr. Whimsey, “we can do that.”  “OK, I’ll get the circular saw out and get the bench marked,” said I.  “Oh no,” said Mr. Whimsey, “I have this perfectly good table saw that is much easier to use.”  “Ah but…..,” said I.  “It will work – we’ll make it work!” exclaimed Mr. Whimsey.  Oh well I can always cover it up with paint and a cushion and maybe not let anyone sit on it went through my mind.

 
 
                                                                                                                                                                       
So after a test sit (yes it is sturdy enough to sit on as long as you aren’t jumping up and down on it), I sanded it, gave it two coats of white primer, and a coat of crackle.


 
Then because I knew it wouldn’t take much paint and didn’t want to spend any more money on the bench project – I mixed my own paint.  I had some paint left over from my bathroom project , some paint leftover from a small sample jar that I didn’t use in my bathroom because it was too green, and a jar of bright turquoise craft paint that I put in just a little at a time to get a beautiful robin’s egg blue.  That went on over the crackle and after letting it cure for 24 hours, I used Briwax in Rustic Pine (which is a really earthy dark brown) to polish and antique it.
 
 
 
I covet one of those old fashioned looking rectangular pillows with the piping all around and tufting that are cotton stuffed…something like this only not in that color (I’m dreaming maybe a really faded cream and blue ticking)…but for now a folded king-sized cotton quilt is the perfect size and will have to do. 
 
 

So here is the moral of the story.   What you have can be used in many different ways…shop from your house to find what you need…and know that whatever comes out IS good enough – after all YOU created it!

Monday, May 27, 2013

A Two Salute Sandwich


What a lovely long weekend – Friday grandparents breakfast at our granddaughter’s school and then graduation that evening,  Saturday graduation party,  Sunday Grant Park Farmer’s Market goodies,  and Monday catching up around the house and yard.   

Congratulations sweet girl, you are beautiful and smart and I know you have a bright future ahead of you.  T and C and Red, you outdid yourselves on the party – the food was absolutely wonderful and we had such a good time visiting.
 
 

 
Now it’s been said that you should talk to your plants and that will make them grow better.  Well I’ve talked and talked….and talked….to my ‘maters and I think Mother Nature has been talking louder than I have.  Although my squash is coming along nicely



 

 
 my  tomatoes are still the same size they were a couple of weeks ago.  The mini’s have a few tomatoes but the big one continues to bloom with no tomatoes to show from them. 

 


 
but I have high hopes that in a couple of months I will see this

 


 
 On this Memorial Day I’d like to thank all of our men and women who have served and continue serving for our freedom.

 


You are always in our prayers.