Great Haul from the Sally

My friend Kay and I went to the Salvation Army, and there were a number of great things, which, being best buddies, we *hardly* argued over. (really, Kay deferred to me for "first pickin's".) First off, not one but Two wool blankets (don't you love the orchid plaid one?):
Next, a 35th anniversary plate, even tho' our 33rd anniversary is October. I can wait for two years to decorate with it, as it is my favorite color, Green:

(by the way, Kay took the 30th anniversary plate, because she celebrated hers last month.)

Here we have almost a yard of red velvet for 49 cents (for doll clothes), a vintage pj pattern for twenty cents, and a book of the letters of Thomas Jefferson (this is going to Violet, the presidential-letter buff):

And, my glory-find of the day: four vintage hankies from a woman with very sophisticated taste. These are not like any of my other hankies, which are mostly floral or lacy, and tend to pinks/greens/blues/yellows. Get a load of the Tans and Salmons:

These appliques are hand-done, with teeny-tiny stitches, of course:

Even tinier applique, and hand-hemming:

I see them as a sign of a slower, gentler time. Like darning socks or "turning" collars and cuffs. Or any kind of patching. I have done each of those, but certainly not on a regular basis. I think that is why we love to buy homely, useful things from a former time. It really gives us a sense of how these women lived. And we feel that "sisterhood" of women, who are the same as we are in so many ways. We are all nurturing our families, making a haven for our loved ones, and trying to fill our lives and homes with beauty. I love my role in civilization!

Eight-Eighteen

Well, you probably know that it is August 18th. The numerical equivalent of that, 818, is also our house number. And, if you're really *with it,* you realize that 8/18 appears twice during the day, at 8:18 am, and pm.

The first year we lived in this house, 16 years ago, my middle-schoolers noticed that the time came up on the VCR, 8:18, and made up a chant, "eight-eighteen [the time] ON eight-eighteen [the date] AT eight-eighteen [our house]." And, if you have children, you know how absolutely irritating any kind of chant can be. I was really, really glad when *that* day was over.

As the years went by, they made it a game--who would notice and let somebody else know?

As the children grew up and left home, they still made it a point to call me and their Dad, and each other. Cellphones are really good for this, because you only have one minute to make sure everybody has gotten a turn to play. And, if you happen to forget it in the morning, you still have the p.m. to play.

I was gone this morning, getting a tire fixed from a nail we picked up on vacation somewhere. Later I heard that Joe Hardy called three of his siblings. I was ready for the p.m. round--I got three of my kids called. Two others had to be at 8:19, but, at least I tried.

All of this isn't really of any importance at all, of course, unless you belong to our family. The reason I share it is to make a point about Family Culture--those things that are a part of Who We Are. And, how some of those things happen as a result of a fluke, never "planned" at all. I just think it is so cool that we are at 16 years and running. I wonder if the game will go on if we move to another house? Can't you just see my kids, in their 50's, calling each other up?

We are so cool.

Or, maybe just weird.

Surprise Side Trip

On the way home, we went through Port Huron, one of two places on the "thumb" of Michigan through which you can enter Canada. We hadn't told Blackeyed Susan and Alvin Fernald we had planned this (and "plan" you must... though they still take birth certificates for minors, and birth certificates and driver's licenses for adults), and they didn't know until we took the exit that said "Bridge to Canada."

It took about thirty minutes in line, to get through the border. Susan, especially, enjoyed all the Canadian flags:
Next in line--almost there:

We were really In Another Country:

The city on the other side of Port Huron, Michigan is Sarnia...not quite Narnia!

It was such fun to see lots of these:

Gasoline was "only" $1.25, which startled us until we figured out it was by-the-liter. However, multiply it by four, and you get $5.00. Don't know if that is more than a gallon, but we waited to get back over, to get gasoline, at our more-normal $3.81/gallon.

We ate at an Applebees-style restaurant, so the menu was fairly familiar. This, however, was a fun addition to our french-fries:

Glad to know I was served Canada's Favorite Ketchup.

Sarnia, for some reason, is not a tourist-y town, so we were having a difficult time finding anything that would pass for souvenirs. (so much for postcards for everybody--never found any.) We finally lighted in a Target-type store that was featuring Canadian Olympic stuff, so were able to get a few flags. I got a maple-leaf pin to wear on my jumpers. The kids got pj pants with Canada on them, and Alvin got a *Canada! Eh!* baseball cap. So, after spending all that time driving around Sarnia (pop. 76,000), and forty-five minutes on the bridge back to the U.S.A., we were really late. Charming got a frappucino, and was "hoping" to get home by 1 a.m. You might need to click on the photo to see the actual arrival time:

Ah. Home again! We grabbed our pillows and toiletry bag and crashed in our beds. (a little hoorah--my King Sized Bed. The cottage only had bunks and full-sized beds.) Yep, Dorothy Gale was right--there's No Place Like Home.

Beautiful Lake Huron

We were blessed to be able to go on a vacation last week to a cottage in Port Austin, Michigan. If you look at Michigan as a mitten, it is at the top of the "thumb," on Lake Huron.

Somehow, I got so relaxed that taking photographs didn't happen, for the most part. Here is one of Charming and Alvin Fernald, getting ready for a hike:
...and we did manage to get the "group" picture, sort of. Here is Charming's dad, and the four of us:

...and here is Charming's dad and his lovely wife Lynn, whose family owns the cottage we stayed at, as well as the year-round house next door:

Now, I *did* manage to get photos every night of the sunsets. They are so amazing, looking across the lake. There were biggie winds on Saturday night, (notice our faces blowing away) necessitating the use of three blankets in order to stay outside long enough for the sun to do its thing:

Oh, but it was so, So worth it.

I snuck a photo of Alvin skimming rocks on the beach, waiting for the sunset:

Every single night, the Lord put on a new *extravaganza*. I think this one was Wednesday night--going...

...going....

....Gone.

Living in a town, there is never enough horizon to see the entirety of a sunset. Up there, you can actually see the sun "slipping over" the edge. I can surely understand how the ancient people thought the sun god rode a chariot from east to west everyday. And even how people in the Middle Ages thought that the sun orbited the earth. Anyone just using their eyes and their common sense might think so. It is a great example of how, sometimes, Things Aren't As They Appear.

My favorite definition of "science" is Discovering what God has Already Done. How marvelous is the study of the history of science, as the Lord has allowed man to uncover, bit by bit, how His created world works.

We didn't swim much (temps in the 60's and very low 70's), but spent a lot of "lake-watching" time. Time to rest. Time to ponder. Time to wonder. Time for gratitude.

Time. What a great gift.

What a great God!

Jewels

Jewels at Eyes of Wonder has returned to Blogland!

If you did not know Jewels before (she quit blogging almost a year ago to give more attention to her family), you will want to visit her right away. She is the mother of a large family who has attained what so many of us want--a simple lifestyle. A life Lived Deliberately.

It will rest you just to visit, but besides that, she is a Titus 2 woman who shares her wisdom liberally. It is never a waste of time to stop by her place. Grab your "cuppa" and get on over there!

(I never took her link off my sidebar, hoping she would return...)

Extra-Fun Day

We got to watch Blueberry and Oxford this morning for awhile. It seems that Blackeyed Susan wore Blueberry out. He fell asleep in the middle of the fun:
I got to feed Oxford his breakfast, then put him down for a nap. His being here reminded me that I never took a photo of his baby quilt. Here is Rainy Day Friends:

Blueberry helped Susan show off the cute-ducky flannel backing:

We got the boys unexpectedly, because Forget-me-not had been chosen to be in a panel-discussion at a local grocery which is getting a remodel. They wanted to know what the people who would actually be shopping there, needed in their "ideal" store. She spent two hours there, and they paid her $75.00. CASH.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to get ready to go on vacation. We had planned to leave Saturday morning, even tho' Charming's first day of vay-cay is Friday. Naturally, as the time has gotten closer, we decided to leave Friday instead. So, this chick who's biggest bugaboo is being Resistant to Change, is hyperventilating, trying to change gears. But I have my lists, and have got quite a bit of stuff goin' on. However, my Eeyore self will come to the forefront, and I can only see how much is Still Undone. And I can feel myself on the brink of Overwhelm-ment.

Take a breath. Go to bed. Tomorrow the lists will Work For You.

I think I can do this. Right?

Charming's Family Reunion

Warning: Post is photo-heavy. Proceed at your own risk:

First off, we have Forget-me-not and Baby Oxford, now five months old:
Here is Johnny Tremain, with Laura Carrot and Sweet Pea in Great-Grandma's pool:

Baby Cambridge snuggling up to Uncle Joe Hardy:

Blackeyed Susan and Tiny Dancer caught eating dessert:

A real treat: Charming's cousin Norman came, who Charming hasn't seen for years'n'years'n'years:

If you are married to a musician (or the mother of one), you know the Musician Face that they wear while they are In The Groove: (from left, our niece Jackie, Charming, and his best friend Mikey.)

Time for Charming's brother Matt to open his quilt. Here he is, checking out the squares:

A hug with the maker (ME!!!):

Junior Asparagus found a spider and an egg-sac inside Grandma's house. Several people tried to get a photo (I wanted one of Junior watching, but didn't get it), but at least I got one of "Charlotte:"

It was a wonderful, wonderful day. The weather was perfect, (so was the food--you know the family-reunion-thing), visiting was fantastic. My heart was very full by the end of the day. I think I got a photo of all of my kids, but the ones of Violet and Don Quixote weren't too good. It has been about ten years since all of my children have been at this reunion at the same time.

Good, good stuff. I love Family.

Busy, Busy Day

I finished this quilt, "just in time." It is for Charming's brother, who is coming in from New York City for Charming's family get-together tomorrow.
Most of the squares have a NYC theme, and I alternated them with nine-patch squares. The bright blue in the quilt is one of my favorite fabrics ever, ever, ever.

Today was Alvin's last day of baseball for the summer season. He is in the middle front, with the green batting helmet:

I made him come closer so I could get a better photo:

Johnny Tremain (left) came with two of my grandbabies. MacGuyver (right) came from Indy as a surprise for Alvin. He even made a t-shirt for Alvin with his name on it:

MacGuyver's girlfriend, Tiny Dancer, tossed a ball with Junior Asparagus. She is breaking in her brand-new mitt, which Mac bought on clearance at Wal-mart yesterday for...wait for it...Two Dollars. (gotta get me to Wallyworld...)

Sweet Pea stayed close by Grandma. She's wearing a Notre Dame cap as protection against the raindrops during the game:

After the game, awards were given. Alvin received the Silver Bat award for the highest batting average--a whopping .588! (so proud, here...) Then we all caravanned over to my Dad's nursing home for a visit. We finished our morning with lunch out, then home for some downtime.

I have finished my batch of potato salad for the reunion tomorrow, and found bathing suits, towels, and camp chairs. Tomorrow early, I will make an oatmeal cake (recipe to follow in a couple of days, Jennifer!) and we'll be off for the day to Charming's Mom's house. Another great-big-day, full of food, love, food, conversation, food, softball, swimming, music, and...food!

See ya' later. Gotta get some sleep!

Junior's Purple Period

After homeschooling for many years, you seem to collect a lot of crayons. You probably have a box like this one:
Yesterday, Junior Asparagus came to visit. This is what I found when he left:

Hmm. Must be going through a purple phase. Or maybe his Daddy read him Harold and the Purple Crayon yesterday afternoon?

Old Home Week

My sister was in town last week from Arizona. We did so many, many things! But I think she took 'way most of the photos. The few that were on my camera were *pitiful*, if I was trying to make you understand the fun, Fun, FUN we had.

Monday last, Janny came over for supper. Lily brought over some of her scrapbooking equipment, because I had purchased a vintage photo album (you know, the kind with the black pages) to use to make a Yo-Yo Sisterhood scrap album. This is what we call our little sisterhood, and, yes, it's like the movie of the similar name. Only take out the mental illness/cr*ppy childhood things. Keep the great memories/coming of age/love abounding stuff.

We had some photos of our previous gatherings that I wanted to put in the Book. I found out that the fancy "white" pen I bought (archival, acid free, etc. etc.) didn't work as well as a plain ol' white crayola crayon. The idea for this book is not to be archival (although my parents' old photo albums are still in as pristine condition as when they put them together) but just FUN.

So we put the pages together, and I glued some fabric yo-yos on the cover, and put in big green glitter letters: The Divine Secrets of the Yo-Yo Sisterhood:

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Tuesday night was the meeting of the Sisterhood. Four members were present--my sister and I, and my two brothers' wives, Robin and Debbie. We met at Janny's hotel room, and had the pool and whirlpool to ourselves for a long time. We then went back to the room for the yummiest food you could get "to go"--chicken salad on croissants, broccoli/raisin salad, berries, good cheese. For dessert we had creme brulee, introduced to us at the 2003 Yo-Yo "convention" by our Auntie Marylin. We share this dessert every time we meet in our town.

We shared gifts, including Chocolate. We shared little bits of those girlie books that have quotes and poems and little stories about being Sisters or Mothers and such. We talked and talked and laughed and laughed--girl style. It was a beautiful evening, made even more beautiful because of the blessing of four sisters who love the Lord and have loved each other for decades.

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Wednesday was Janny and Barbie Day. We wanted to make it special, but not too far away. We chose to go to Huntington, a town 25 miles away, where my father was born, and forty-seven-twelve thousand other family members lived. We first went to Plaster*er's Antiques (take out the asterisk and you have my maiden name). It is run by a distant cousin, the grandson of Eiffel Plasterer and his wife. We had a wonderful time, talking family history. Edward (the cousin) and I could both rattle off the "roll" of our family genealogy in America--Heinrich, Conrad, Conrad, George, Henry, Richard, Robert (my Dad) and Barbie. That makes me eighth generation, and my grandbabies tenth generation Americans. Edward's line diverged after George, but what is really cool is that we could still feel the connection--we are "blood" relatives. Kinda puts that boring Numbers and Chronicles stuff I've been reading into perspective. I realize that all those Biblical genealogies were important--at least to the Israelites, right?

Janny and I both bought two teacup-and-saucer sets for our collections. We then went to Elizabeth's Tea Room (no website, but a super-cool place) for lunch. It is in a historical home, and was "atmosphere sublime" for chicks. I don't think they mean to cater to men...well, the guys have their "sports bars" for that purpose, right?

Wonderful time lingering over lunch, talking and talking together.

***********************************

Thursday, we had Janny to dinner at my house again, and it was her chance to visit with my children (and grands!) and my one lone nephew in town. Lots of laughter and talkin' goin' on. AND...she brought me my fabulous birthday present. (which I will share when I have a photo...)

Friday, I think all we did was to have lunch together. We were pretty tired by that time, after all.

Saturday morning, Janny went back to Huntington, to the Indiana Room at the Public Library, where they have an enormous file on our family. She chose several things to photocopy and share with us. Saturday night, my brother had all of us siblingsand spouses over for a cookout. (He makes fabulous ribs!) We had wonderful fellowship around the fire, as well. A great ending to a full, full, "family" week.

Now, it's back to laundry, dishes, and the myriad little chores that keep the house running. I'm also working on lesson plans for the fall semester (a little late, but, oh, well...). Saturday we have the get-together of Charming's family. In two weeks is our vacation. Somewhere along the line, Normalcy will return.

I'm hopin'.

The Jury is In

117 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

I really think I could have done a little better, even. Some of the answers I did not choose would have, I thought, also been appropriate. My favorite thing about the test is that I really had to get my head into hers (my 1930's counterpart).

Meredith at Like Merchant Ships titled her post "fails to wash tops of milk bottles." I don't remember my mother washing the tops of the bottles we got from the milkman. She always told us that Tonne Dairy bottled their milk "under the most sanitary conditions."

Thanks to Meredith for this fun link! By the way, there is a "husband" test, as well!

Anybody hungry?

My son Joe Hardy is a member of a Hispanic church, who wants to do a food fundraiser. Joe asked me if I would like to make potato salad for the event. We decided that four batches would make enough for 60-80 dinners (depending on portion control).

So...

Twenty pounds of potatoes, peeled, boiled, chopped. Four dozen eggs, boiled, peeled, sliced. Eight ribs of celery, two large onions, chopped. Four quarts of Miracle Whip, mustard, pickle juice. Dill weed and paprika.

Hours and hours and hours. Large-O mess. I filled two foil "turkey roasters" full to the top. Probably 25 pounds. Called Joe at work to tell him I Was Finished.

Mom. The fundraiser is Next Saturday, not This.

I pictured myself going door-to-door, crying, begging people to Please Take My Potato Salad.

I called Charming at work and boo-hooed on his shoulder. He said, "but, Honey, potato salad can be frozen."

Ray of hope? Light at the end of a very dark tunnel?

The jury is still out. Everywhere I go on the internet says that potatoes are good for nothing but the garbage can if they have been frozen and thawed. Gritty. Mushy.

So how come they sell Frozen Mashed Potatoes and Frozen Hashed Brown Potatoes? And, helloooo, French Fries...

edited to add: I think I have found my answer here. It appears you can freeze potatoes if you don't thaw them before cooking (thus the stuff you find in the stores). It is when they are thawed that the gritty mushiness occurs. Looks like I'm sunk.

If you are in the neighborhood, come on over! I'll warn you, though. Potato Salad will be the appetizer, entree, and dessert...

edited Again: My neighbor Linda's church is having a happenin' this weekend as well, and said she would welcome the potato salad. Praise the Lord!

Ooh, a giveaway!

And How!! Click on the photo to go see pictures of this gorgeous quilt, and find out how you can win it! While you're there, check out all of Dana's cool stuff. You will not be disappointed!

Goodwill Happiness

Had a great trip to two Goodwills in town this week. I found six bread-and-butter plates and four dinner plates in the vintage "Colonial Homestead" pattern. I actually collect "The Olde Curiosity Shop" pattern, but this is very similar, and with my family growing (19 now and with no signs of stopping!) this is very welcome. I also found *just one* Mikasa plate, which will go into the everyday stack: These were new, ($3.99 each) and I got three: one for Alvin Fernald, one for Junior Asparagus, and one for Blueberry. They have my last name printed on them--fun!!

Ooh, and this goodie--a Pampered Chef coffee carafe--$3.00:

I also scored several books for the Gift Box, and a Spiderman camp chair for Blueberry.

Now, back to work!

Just Shoot Me And Get It Over With

Blackeyed Susan after youth group last evening, pointing out two foreign exchange students:

"Joao is from Brazil, and Alberto is from Italy. Are those two countries next to each other?"

In her defense, she made the statement because the two boys knew each other before they started coming to youth group this summer, and she was trying to figure that out. AND...

We all say really dumb stuff from time to time, right? AND...

So, all the times I lament public school students not knowing where Mexico or Canada is, and saying, Thank Goodness I'm homeschooling, 'cause that would Never Happen to Me...well...

I guess we are all human.

But I *am* going to dig out that Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego game.

Today.

I Ain't Movin'!

I live in the second-largest city in the state of Indiana. We are known here for our low cost-of-living, and, probably the comment most made by people who live here is, "it's a great place to raise a family." We are also known as the "city of churches," which is not a bad thing, either. I can think of nine or ten churches within a mile of my home, and I might be missing some!

I heard a story on the radio today. The "morning guy" played a sound-bite from a tv news story in Pittsburgh, where a Fort Wayne native had moved. He was shocked to find his property tax bill was $7000 a year.

Seven. thousand. dollars. I pay less than $500 over that amount per year for my mortgage, which *includes* property tax AND homeowner's insurance. My property taxes are about 10% of the guy in Pittsburgh's.

Another man called in to say that he moved here from Corpus Christi, TX, and the property tax bill for a 2500 sq. ft. home was *eight* thousand dollars! So that is more than I pay for everything. (guess I won't complain about my natural gas bill budget going up this month...)

My daughter Violet used to work for the Convention and Visitor's Bureau here in town, and would often receive calls from people who were moving here from other parts of the country. A man called from California, and asked if it were "possible" to find "anything" to house his family for $350,000. Now, of course you *can* find homes here for that price (at one time, our town had more per-capita millionaires than anywhere else in the country), but that her parents' home was in a lovely old neighborhood inhabited by many artsy-types (including the director of the symphony), and [our] home was less than $100,000. The man 'bout fell off his chair. Now, I understand that, him being from California and all. My aunt lived in a 1400 sq.ft. two-bedroom, one bath dealie that listed for $578,000. I can't even imagine how much money you would have to make, in order to make the payments on a mortgage like that.

Would any of you like to come "be my neighbor?" We'd love to have you!

A Blessed, Blessed Evening

Charming and Alvin Fernald were privileged to be part of a group ministering at a small fellowship this evening. Here they are, setting up:
I'm so Mommy-proud, because this is Alvin's first "gig" playing *out,* and he got to do it with his Daddy.

This is a group of musicians that get together for a Jam Session every other Tuesday. The leaders are Charming and Nancy Honeytree. Nancy is in blue:

Also among the muscians are two of the original members ofPetra. The lead guitar is behind Alvin, in front of the window:

So, not only was the worship amazing, and the message "right-to-the-heart," this Jesus freak chick was in groupie heaven...

This capped off a day of beautiful weather, wonderful worship at our home church, and then the evening Honeytree and Friends concert. I feel full and warm inside, encouraged and Ready For The Week Ahead!

Oh, yeah, Baby!

MSNBC has posted a Citizenship test that you can take for fun. Here are my results:

You answered 100% of questions correctly.

Oh, yeah, baby!

I notice, however, that all of the questions have to do with History dates or History facts. Not to pooh-pooh the homeschool mantra that "that is no way to learn history/history learned that way will be soon-forgotten," I am thirty-five years "out" from high school, and, of course, some of those questions I learned in fourth-grade civics class.

I am certainly teaching my children from Good Books--they are what makes history "come alive." But I have found, especially in my homeschooling experience, that the Facts and the Dates are where you place the Great Stories. Don't forget the penchant of homeschooling families to have a Timeline around the perimeter of their dining rooms!

Okay. Down off my soapbox. Time to toot my own horn!

Challenge to my family peeps to do the test yourselves!

For My Sister

Sewing...
Checking vintage recipes:

and more.

Can you guess why?

Do you need a Clue?

Here it is: