Breathing New Life

Our DIL inherited a box containing 36 quilt blocks, all Churn Dash, that her mother, Phyllis, had stashed away for years. She had always planned to do something with them, they were pieced by her mother, our DIL's grandmother. Some of them were in pretty rough shape. The maker of these blocks used what she had: flour sacks, what appears to be bed sheets and some very sheer Leno-weave florals, all pieced together with many and various thread colors. Our DIL knows that these blocks are at least eighty years old.The idea was to set them together in three quilt tops, one for each of Phyllis' grandchildren. I helped a bit with a design plan but after that our ambitious DIL ran with it. In a few days she sent me a photo...

Hooray! What a glorious accomplishment. We deemed those blocks too fragile for washing before they were stabilized with sashing, all cut on the straight grain.

They came back to me for baths, all delicately hand done and rinsed...

...before they were stretched out, covered for protection from the sun, birds, etc; 

and dried outdoors one at a time. Stay tuned for what happens next!

Every quilt tells a story!

Life is Good!

Holding Fast...

This post is coming to you from the deep recesses of my memory. It's really funny sometimes when you're doing the most mundane task how a distant memory, or a series of them, so vivid, come crashing on through. So, I ordered some reusable carpet gripper strips from Amazon for our kitchen rugs. Augie's nightly games of run and fetch the ____________ (you can fill in the blank~ ball, chew toy, stuffed animal, whatever...) ultimately send the rugs flying out of position; his low center of gravity is designed for fast cornering and sliding; he's an expert. I was sitting on the floor and attaching the strips to the backside of the rugs and I remembered my grandmother hand stitching mason jar rings to the bottom of her braided rugs. She had those rugs all over her home, she made them herself. Her sister, Alma, had a husband (my great Uncle Len) who was the manager of the Homestead Woolen Mill in West Swanzey, NH. 

When the looms would finish a run the end pieces were cut off and pitched; long strips of woven wool in every color and hue, were rendered unusable by the mill. My Uncle was able to collect these and furnish not only my Aunt Alma, but also my grandmother, with an endless supply of discarded strips for braiding rugs. My grandmother had a brown cardboard box in the front hall closet, it must have stood four feet high, filled to the brim with strips of wool. I do recall her sitting and folding those raw edges to the inside as she tightly braided three chosen strips neatly together. It seemed like she had a clamp or some kind of device that separated the strips as they came from the box but I don't have a clear recollection of that. This Mill closed in 1985, my Uncle had long-since retired from here by that time.

This is me at my grandmother's house, I believe I'm two years old here. Check out the braided rug. Rugs like this one, as I mentioned before, were everywhere at my grandmother's house. I suppose those jar rings were grippy enough to hold these rugs fast, she was most likely anchoring them to keep me from sending them sliding here or there when I tore through her house like a wild animal in those days! 

Fast forward to today. Sadly, I have no idea whatever happened to those lovingly hand-crafted rugs that my grandmother made but I'm still partial to the look and style. These machine made versions are the closest I could get. Much to Augie's dismay he can't manage to send this one flying anymore when he skids in for a stop after a game of fetch. Those new grippy strips are holding fast, as am I, to the memories...

Life is Good!

Bull's Eye

This picture from 2015 popped up in my memories today. Mom and her treasured "Bull's Eye" quilt. She finished piecing it and brought it to me for quilting ten years ago. This is the reunion photo of my mother with her fully finished quilt! Mom had a stroke in 1999. After a long recovery and rehab stint, she returned home but had lost her sewing mojo. It was this pattern: "Twenty First Century Bull's Eye" from the book Quilts from Aunt Amy by Country Threads that pulled her back into sewing and quilting! We assembled fabrics together and hand-cut the circles, it was a process but we persevered.

There was no stopping her after that, she was firmly back on the path. She gave the quilt to me a few years ago, for "safe keeping". It resides now on a quilt stand in our bedroom, I see it every day. Those memories of her comeback and all that this quilt represents are ones that are kept safe in my heart forever. But, when the above photo popped up on my phone from my digital memory file, it hit hard; I wasn't expecting it. Once I caught my breath, however, I smiled; this reminiscence sure did hit the target, it was a perfect Bull's Eye! 

                                    Life is Good!                                    

Fuzz-B-Gone

I have had one of these hand-held fuzz removers for 50 years. I remember where I bought mine, in the cash register checkout line, where they hang all those last minute impulse-buy temptations, at Osco Drug in the Tippecanoe Mall, Lafayette, IN, back in 1973 or '74. I worked across the hall at the Singer store in those days, before I was married. I really had no business buying anything on a whim, it was basically a hand to mouth existence in back then, which is probably why I remember this purchase, out of guilt. It likely cost less than a dollar; but, this was the hey-dey of polyester double knit everything, and it was just the tool that I thought that I needed at the time. It certainly did serve me well, saw decades of use, and always did a fabulous job of ridding sweaters and the like from pesky fuzz balls. Over time it slowly lost it's effectiveness, though. The plastic handle became brittle and cracked and the little de-fuzzer teeth either fell out or dulled to the point that the tool was deemed useless a few years back. I admit to being intrigued by the battery operated fabric shavers when they hit the market but have resisted, until now. I suppose my hesitancy was based on the loyalty that I felt to my old, trusty, fabric-comb friend; we'd come a long way together. 

On Tuesday this handy-dandy tool came to live with me. I had a stack of sweaters that needed attention and this sleek, two-speed dynamo cleaned them up in seconds flat, neatly pulling the fuzz into the receptacle in the handle for quick and easy disposal.

You can easily see the before and after on this knit sweater vest. The results are impressive. It's rechargeable and works like a dream. I'm happy with the purchase but I'll never have the same relationship with this whiz-bang tool that I did with that fifty-years-ago, checkout-line, defuzzer comb. Progress is a good thing, don't get me wrong; but in my memory that d.fuzz.it was all that, and always will be! 

Life is Good!   

Crystal Clear

About once I year I have no choice but to empty out the glass front cabinets, fill the kitchen sink with hot, soapy water and hand wash (and dry) all the crystal and glass until it sparkles brightly again. It takes me the better part of a day. Although it's tedious, I'm always delighted to be reacquainted with glassware that reminds of special people, times and places. 

For example: this decanter and drinking glass set was my grandmother's; it is at least one hundred years old. My mother remembers it from her childhood, sitting on a bedside table. It's in perfect condition, stands about eight inches tall, and brings a smile to my face whenever I see it, it's a true treasure. So it goes: shelf after shelf; wash, dry and put back in position.

Do you have occasional, mundane tasks at your house that you put off (and off and off...) until you can't stand it one more day? Plunging in has it's own reward; it's deeply satisfying afterwards to stand back and take in the gleaming sight of a job well done. Having it all out made me think we should have had a party to celebrate. But, then, there'd be all those glasses to wash up! 😉

Life is Good!

Old Sayings

I had to have some emergency dental work done this week after I lost an onlay from a back molar. Since the site was one where I'd already had a root canal no numbing was necessary; or so I thought! It was a lot more stressful (tugging, pulling, grinding!) than I had imagined, the time in the chair enduring all of this torture was well over an hour. I called Mr. G. when I was on my way home, he asked how it had been. I found myself saying "I feel like I was pulled through a knothole backwards"; this was a phrase that my grandmother used to use and I hadn't thought about it in years, it just came flooding back! Do you have those phrases, old sayings, that are stored way down deep in your memory? This made me smile. Thinking about her brought to mind another word (or maybe it's two words) that I don't know I've ever heard anyone else use. If I was in her care and wanted to go outside to play I was expected to stay in the dooryard (door yard?). I knew exactly what this meant, it described that area outside the backdoor that she could see when she when she stuck her head out to check on me. I wasn't allowed out of her sight. Have you ever heard that one before? How about you? What old sayings, or quaint phrases, are stored in your memories? We'd love to hear them. 

Oh, PS- the tooth is all fixed and just fine again. 😉

Life is Good!

Remember?

I talk to my Dad on the phone every morning at 7:30; actually, it's more than that- we FaceTime every morning! We upgraded our communication style when COVID began, not knowing then how long it would be before in-person visits resumed; we've been "seeing" each other daily since then. He was telling me the other day how he can't seem to remember things anymore, things that used to be so familiar to him: restaurant names, places, things like that; it discouraged him. I had just cleaned out that closet (former post) to make way for Christmas decorations and found a boxful of old photographs with people in them that I wasn't sure I could identify. Thinking that this might be the perfect memory-jogger for him, as well as a great way for me to get information for labeling these photos, I showed this one to him today. All that I knew was that I'm the baby being held in this picture and that this was taken at my grandparents' home. Dad is a wealth of knowledge; as soon as he saw this scene he told me that this was my great aunt, my grandmother's sister. From there he regaled me with tales about the car in the background (I learned it was a 1947 Ford that belonged to my grandfather) where it was purchased and how many miles it had on it at the time, what options it had, and how he had "borrowed" it to take my mother on a date because he liked it so much better than his own car at the time. He even recalled what, and when, my grandfather traded it in for years later. It was the best "visit", we both enjoyed it; me in the listening and he in the happy remembering and retelling, he was really excited about that.  I'm going to pull out a few more to look at this week, it's a great way to start the day!

Life is Good!

December Discoveries

'tis the season! It's been a busy few weeks around here; ones full of happy days, and lots of busy times and delightful  holiday related discoveries. I'll start with this struggling Christmas cactus. This plant belonged to my mother-in-law. It wasn't in the best shape when I brought it here to live after cleaning out her home over four years ago. I haven't done a thing to it, except for weekly waterings. It needs to be repotted and given some life-boosting nutrients, for sure. And yet, here it comes, once again reminding me that it will bloom, albeit sparsely... despite the neglect. This was a lovely discovery and a dear reminder of a precious member of our family, one who lives on in our hearts always, but especially at Christmastime.

This was a sweet discovery; the best of two things: peppermint and chocolate. If you missed these this season, look for them next year. From what I understand they're only available at Target and they sell out fast! You're welcome. 

I don't burn many scented candles in the house anymore; something that I used to do a LOT, but now have switched, almost exclusively, to essential oil diffusers. With the exception of this candle. It's a new scent, "Merry Berry", from the Holiday Countdown Collection. I have burned this in the kitchen every day during December, it's a delicious discovery that imparts a rich, berry-filled aroma throughout the house reminiscent of baking a mixed berry pie. It's all the more special between the Christmas quilt-patterned plate and shade that was a long-ago gift from my mother. 

A most surprising discovery, at least for me, this Christmas is the undeniable fact that as much as things change, they really do stay the same.  I was cross-stitching ornaments for the tree all those decades ago and here I am today, finishing up a new batch, all over again, this year. I never expected to pick up cross stitch once more, I'd left those fabrics and charts behind and moved on, or so I thought! Thanks to Quiltkeemosabe, and her encouragement, I was directed toward new fabrics, techniques (stitching over two on even weave linen) and patterns. The styles and finishing techniques may have changed but my enthusiasm for the pastime hasn't waned a bit, much to my astonishment and delight. 

A glorious discovery this year is this pure white Christmas rose. I found it, at of all places, at Trader Joe's. I absolutely love Hellebores, and have a few varieties of Lenten roses, which thrive in my perennial garden. I look forward to transplanting this outside there after the blooms fade. A dear friend had alerted me, many years ago, to this variety but I had forgotten all about it until I saw these for sale outside the grocery store, on the sidewalk, last week. 

In closing, one more; this- a truly unexpected discovery! When visiting my parents this fall I picked up this photograph off the floor where it was peeking out from the skirt around the bottom of the sofa. I had never seen it before and my mother had no idea how it had landed there. This is me, Christmas 1956, I was three years old. The photograph was taken at the Community Store in my hometown. (My eyes went directly to that thread cabinet over Santa's right shoulder! 😉) This vignette is quintessentially New England with the Hood Dairy box stationed on the floor- I immediately recognized that as one that would have contained Hoodsie cups, those delicious vanilla and chocolate combined ice cream cups eaten from a flat, wooden spoon attached to the bottom on the package. 

I wish you all the happiest of Christmases, one teeming with discoveries both great and small, ones that are lovely, sweet, delicious, surprising, glorious and unexpected; and, above all, I wish you peace!

Life is Good!

May Day ~ Memories

Happy May Day! A new month, reason to celebrate; we made it through April! I had an "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" moment this morning. When I spoke with my Dad on the phone today he told me that my grandparents' former home (I grew up living next door to my grandparents) is being remodeled and that a large addition is going on, as well as an in-ground swimming pool. He learned this from a friend of his who still lives in our old hometown. "Interesting", I thought, I filed that away. A few minutes after we spoke I decided to look at this house via Google Earth to see if I could see any changes. No, none yet; the satellite image of my grandparents home isn't that up to date but, as happens, one thing led to another and I was looking up satellite pictures of other homes that we've lived in. From July of 1996 through June 1999 we lived in Geneva, Switzerland. We lived in a fortress of an old house there, on a hillside in a lovely neighborhood with a commanding view of the lake and the Jura Mountains behind. Imagine my shock and surprise when the satellite image for that address revealed a vacant lot! I was dumb-founded. From there I had to do some sleuthing, not only was the home that we lived in gone but, also, the homes on either side. I was able to pull up the Swiss equivalent of a building permit online for that village and found that (using my very best translation skills from French to English) permission had been granted for the construction of four adjoining villas on those sites! Hmmmm. Sad. I have so many wonderful memories of living in that house, of my sewing room in the basement (also with a lake view) and the great adventures we had coming and going. Of course, this revelation sent me scrambling for photographs of our time together there! (One thing leads to another...) At that time our daughter was in college back in the U.S.; our son attended high school in Geneva, so, for the most part it was the three of us then. Sigh. Anyway-- May Day always reminds me of our time living there when bunches of Lilies of the Valley were sold on street corners: "Muguet Day", it's a lovely remembrance of a time long ago and far away.

And, right here, right now: this precious little basket that Lynnleigh brought us two years ago. 💗

Yes, today's May Day, I hope yours is a happy one. 

Will you dance around the Maypole?

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Life is Good!

Playing Catch-Up

No, I haven't dropped off the planet.  We've been gone though; we traveled to New England to visit family the week before last and it seems as though I have been playing "catch-up" ever since. We happened to be gone during the time of the return to standard time; this was Hannes' reaction, he fell asleep while waiting at his dinner dish, at 3:30 PM! We had a good time being away, although the weather was cold and rainy almost the entire time we visited in New Hampshire. That was okay, though, I helped out with inside chores such as cleaning out, sorting and organizing old photographs for Mom and Dad. We unearthed some treasures.

My paternal grandmother (oldest) and her siblings, circa 1910. 

My paternal great grandmother (far left) holding my baby sister. I am in red, sitting with my Dad, my mother is seated behind him. My paternal grandmother, standing, (same person pictured above, as a child) in the light blue floral dress and my paternal grandfather seated on the chaise lounge with his aunt beside him and uncle standing behind, this was taken at their home in Dorchester, Massachusetts. I absolutely love so many things about this photo. We surmised it must have been Mother's Day, as my great grandmother is wearing a corsage. I love the fact that everyone DRESSED (pearls!) to go visiting; and, the fact that they carried in the porch furniture to accommodate the overflow crowd!

I found this one of yours truly too; it's a gem. Eighth grade science class-- such focus. 😂😉

While in New England we took in another Home Free concert. I believe this is the sixth time that we've heard this A Capella country group live and in person; they never disappoint, it was a great show. 

The one place we didn't go this trip was to Keepsake. I told my Mom and Dad that there wasn't anything I needed right now-- thinking I had all the time in the world to shop there again next time. Little did I know, until the announcement yesterday, that Keepsake Quilting's Center Harbor location is closing its doors for once and for all at the end of February next year. Another bricks and mortar store going away. I am heartbroken over this announcement, this flagship store has always been a treat to visit. Mr. Goodneedle and I may just need to make another trip up north before it closes for one last  goodbye.

Back on the homefront. This is a picture of our brick patio from this past April. We have been waiting on a contractor to cover part of this space with a screened-in porch; at long last we finally learned of a start date in late fall.

In an effort to get ready for construction, Mr. Goodneedle took apart the columns that supported the handrails, brick by brick. This was a dirty and exhausting job but he persevered.

Here's how things stand today. The construction crew's slated to be here at noon today to begin (and it's a balmy 30 degrees!!) Stay tuned for updates, I have lots more to report from my time away too.

Life is Good!

Up next: photos weren't the only things that I carried home from my parents home. 

I also brought a quilt...

Four for Four

For the past three days we've had a little helper here, things are sadly quiet this morning. Over the last few months Mr. Goodneedle and I have tried to have each of the grandchildren for a weekend, by themselves, as schedules allowed. We didn't get Lucy Ann for a weekend but did manage the first three days of her spring break from school this week. We've now four for four, she was the final one to come and stay in the rotation.

When we got to the house on Monday after a lunch stop she picked right up where her cousin left off last weekend and finished sorting Nana's strips and strings into color groups. We cleared the table and started all over again. She was done in no time. I honestly cannot remember how long it's been since I saw the bottom of that bin!

She helped Paw Paw to crank up a batch of homemade chocolate ice cream in the workshop. 

On Tuesday we baked. Macarons. Ever since she was very young and read "Fancy Nancy" books, Lucy Ann has been intruiged by all things French. Yes, she wants to go to Paris, but claims that will have to wait until she perfects her table manners (I can't imagine where she's ever heard bargaining like that!😉) We have been planning to make these ever since her visit was scheduled, but this week we had Paris on our mind following the devastating fire at Notre Dame.  The cookies were a huge hit and turned out really well! If anyone is interested in the recipe you can find it here. 

In the afternoon she helped Paw Paw plant some fruit trees in our orchard space.

She made a prayer booklet for herself; copying scripture, quotes and even writing her own prayers to add. She decorated the pages and joined the stack together with a ring at the top so that she can flip through it and add more pages as she goes. 

We took a little trip to a precious local bakery and she chose a cupcake for dessert and one to take home for her brother. 

Yesterday it was sewing day. She made skirts for her American Girl dolls, we fused designs onto t-shirts for the dolls to coordinate. She takes direction well and ended up with two cute little outfits.

She was really excited about sewing; we need to do more of this while her interest is high. Having a short lesson and keeping the project simple and the goal attainable, will, hopefully, bring her back for more! 

Before we knew it, the time had come to get back in the car and head home. I hope Lucy Ann will remember our time together fondly; I know that we will! We miss this girl today; so does Hannes. 

He's very lonely today without his constant companion. I told my daughter this morning, 

that I don't think Hannes' feet touched the floor the entire time that Lucy Ann was here. 

Now it's time to start all over again-- one grandchild at a time!

Life is Good!