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!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

I continue to pore through boxes of books that belonged to my mother-in-law, she and Dad collected books with a passion. I go through them slowly, carefully deciding which to keep and which to donate. Earlier this month I ran across this devotional book  entitled "This Is God's Day" by Dr. Reuben K. Youngdahl. It was a Christmas gift given to my in-laws in 1956. I have done some research on the book as well as the author. Dr. Youngdahl was a Lutheran pastor in Minneapolis, MN. He turned a relatively small Lutheran church there, Mt. Olivet, into what would be considered, by today's standards, to be a mega-church; he served that congregation from 1938 until his death in 1968. The book that we have is a first edition devotional volume, published by Augustana Press, Rock Island, IL in 1956. It is a gem. I cherish this book, altogether unbeknownst to me until now. Somehow it connects me, in a very tangible way, to my husband's precious family. We have added "This Is God's Day" to our daily devotional time each and every day, it helps me to miss my astounding mother-in-law just a teeny bit less; she was a faith model for me, and finding this book is almost like a secret gift she had saved for me to find now.

Beginning with a scripture verse, enforced by a compelling human interest story and, finally, punctuated with "Today's Thought" each day's entry is clear, concise and inspirational. What was timely decades ago stands today as well; just as God's word is wholly relevant--yesterday, today and tomorrow. Amen. Thanks, Mom!

"You need not ask a man if he is at peace-- his life will tell you."

Life is Good!

Discovered Treasures Providing Smiles

We've been dining by candlelight the last few days, from the glow cast by candles standing in vintage silver candlesticks no less. These, and other treasures, have recently come to live here as we continue the monumental task of cleaning out my dear mother-in-law's home. These candlesticks represent the blending of two families when my husband's parents wed; these belonged, at one time, to both sets of his grandparents and were passed down decades ago. Now they reside here. Their shine and patina are thanks to a generous amount of elbow grease and silver polish. They make me smile.  

While cleaning out drawers in the kitchen I ran across this gem. Mom had a terrific sense of humor and this made me smile too, I can just hear her chuckling when she bought this tea towel. I had never seen it before, it was brand-new; of course it was, she was probably "saving it" as she did items "too nice" to use! 

This grand-prize of all treasures is not brand-new, but it is in brand-new condition! According to my husband's sister, Mom used to sew a good bit; that statement, and the contents of the cabinet's drawers, prove that may have been the case at one time. However, in the past 42 years that I had been her daughter-in-law, I never once saw this cabinet opened out and had absolutely no knowledge of what model machine was contained therein! I was beyond thrilled to discover a pristine Singer 301 nestled inside. The 301 has long been prized for its stitch quality and dependability. According to some tracking that I have done using the serial number, it appears that this machine was manufactured in Anderson, SC in October of 1952. It has followed me to our house, Mom can rest assured that I will give it a loving home; I do believe that fact is providing an approving smile, from her, in Heaven.💗

Life is Good! 

Life Happens...

...when you're busy making plans for other things. Today is "Gregory" day. I keep my youngest grandson on Mondays, I leave the house at 7 AM and arrive at his home at precisely 7:30. This morning was no different, I was in the process of bidding Mr. Goodneedle good-bye, armed with my "nap time" projects when the phone rang; the caller I.D. displayed "Mom". My heart sank, it was my mother-in-law, she does NOT get up early; this couldn't be good news. She had fallen, last night, she couldn't get up and she needed my husband to come; the details were sketchy. I went my way and he went his. I arrived at Gregory's home just about the same time that Mr. Goodneedle arrived at his mother's, our worst fears were confirmed. An ambulance was summoned and Gregory and Nana were enroute to join them. Mom's spirits were good, despite an eight-hour-plus detour to the carpet beside her bed. She fell at 11 PM last evening, she hit her head and her side against her bathroom vanity. She didn't want to disturb anyone's sleep even though she had access to the telephone and a life alert button... I firmly believe she thought she would eventually gain enough strength to climb up into her bed and be O.K. Unfortunately, that never happened. After a grueling day in the E.R. she has finally been admitted to a room. She has three broken ribs, that's the bad news. The good news is that her spirits are positive and she's looking forward to a short hospital stay and coming home to her little dog, Linus. He is living here with us temporarily and not any too happy about that; but, I didn't get any appliqué done today during nap time either. Why? Because, life happens when you're busy making plans for other things, that's just the way it is. Please pray for Mom, God is listening and there's power in numbers; I know there's an army of prayer warriors out there. She is feisty and funny and full of life; and, as I always say...

Life is GOOD!