Saturday, November 20, 2010

Remembering Granny


My granny passed away Friday night around 11:00 pm in her sleep. She's been longing for her departure for years. Mom's prayer last night was for God to grant her peace and her prayer was answered. The news came as a shock. She has rebounded time and time from news of uncertainty. I thought we were all prepared for her passing, but I bawled upon hearing she had died, mostly out of guilt because I have been so absent from her life and how I could have provided comfort for her. She was skin and bones, but always had her mind and sense of humor, along with her many memorized sayings and songs. The last time we visited she commented on my red shoes, "When I was young I wore red shoes, now I'm old I wear black." That's not exactly how it went, but something like that. Then she laughed.
Memories of her have flooded my mind all day. She taught me how to sew by hand. We used a shirt sleeve that belonged to Poppy, sitting in her kitchen with the setting sun shining through the window. I remember countless stories of her and her childhood, the history of her family, farming, journaling, shoe making, sewing, church going. She was charming, simple, frugal, sentimental, imaginative, and smiling always.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Thoughts about Thanksgiving

Why just have one Thanksgiving? I'm thinking of trying to get together with several people this year and celebrating a few times. Of course the family will get together that evening with mostly traditional fixin's, unless Papa Buck demands BBQ this year. I would ideally like to make the following:An apple pie, pumpkin pie, and chocolate tart...but I think that's a little too much. If I make an apple pie and chocolate tart I'll be happy. I'd also like to do a fresh cranberry chutney.
But I'd love to make exactly what I would like to have for thanksgiving, though that sounds selfish. Maybe friends will be able to get together before or after the holiday and we can do an easy and more relaxed version. Kale and sausage stuffed turkey breast, apple sourdough stuffing, potato and turnip gratin, sauteed green beans and mushrooms. Maybe an apple galette or pumpkin silk pie for dessert.
Can't you tell I'm all wrapped up in holiday cooking shows and magazines? Tonight I made corn bread and sweet potato casserole from Food Network's Thanksgiving issue.
Reasons I'm excited it's November:
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out November 18th...holy crap
2. Thanksgiving of course
3. 4 days off from work
4. pies, pies, and more pies
5. Christmas decorations going up...
P.S I'll have to share a really easy recipe for homemade ornaments made with nothing more than apple sauce and cinnamon. Most of my ornaments I made last year and it cost next to nothing.

Monday, October 25, 2010

New Quilt



Yeah...I'm not finished with the first one. 12 more rows of stitching to go before it's complete. I do see the light peering at the end of the tunnel. Of course I get bored and start a new quilt. The thing about quilting is, the longer that blanket sets on your lap, the more you start to regret the colors you picked out, or start to notice how horrible the stitches look. At first you think it's the best thing ever, but then it starts to seem flawed.
My new quilt is a little more exciting. I'm copying the quit from Embroidery Companion by Alicia Paulson (Posie Gets Cozy). Currently I'm embroidering baby farm animals onto 6 pieces of linen. It's an expression of my recent barnyard craze. I found an old book my mom use to read me called Baby Animals. The main character is named Katie and she visits the baby animals around the farm. I also found a set of books about a bear named Patrick. Patrick takes a bath, Patrick Goes Shopping, and Patrick Eats His Dinner. I loved those books! "Nuts!" was my favorite thing Patrick said. I just checked on Amazon and other retailers and the books are going for 75 dollars. Crazy.

School is getting more stressful and taking up more time. The weekends are getting shorter. I think it's time for Christmas break.

Monday, October 11, 2010

A Home

I have been obsessing over trying to find a house to rent or buy. I seriously doubt Matt and I will be approved for any loan, but my head is up in the clouds, and hearing a refusal would probably pop my bubble and send me spinning back down to earth. So Matt and I are of course falling in love with houses daily. I imagine a garden, chickens, a bee hive, flowers, and freshly painted walls. Here are two we would love to live in.
Efland:

Things I love:
1. The wrap around porch
2. the stair rail that wraps around
3. the five acres of land!
4. the hard wood floor
5. the location
Glencoe Mill Village:

Things I love:
1. The awesome open cabinets in the kitchen
2. The two old,claw foot bathtubs, one is even in a bedroom with a wrap around curtain!
3. hard wood floors
4. fireplace
5. it's cheap

I would really be excited if this houses were for rent.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Types of Dairy Goats I want...

Alpine kid. I want it so much!

La Mancha kid. I want it.

Saanen kids. I want them.


Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Nest


Kerri introduced me to this amazing store that is loaded with adorable vintage, or made to look vintage, things. What I loved the most about The Nest is how affordable it was. It's truly unique and whimsical. I found a ton of stuff I could have bought...but settled on a few things. Best of all, lots of good ideas for things to make. A leaf soap dish with a bird for pottery, clean white napkins to embroider flowers on, painting limbs white and hanging them or propping them up, or pages from old books glued around candles tied with straw. I got to remember these things, which is why I post them online.
Matt bought me the book I've been wanting. Very thoughtful. I can't wait to do a farm animal quilt. Speaking of farm animals, I'm currently reading the following books: Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats, and Barnyard in your Backyard. New passion I think. Matt and I might be in for a career change, he himself thinks it could be inevitable. For now, we're just studying up and daydreaming.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Fall Break


A couple of weeks ago we went to the Duke Gardens. Searching around for plants we would like to one day plant in our future home. I really loved these crabapple trees. Apples the size of cherries are adorable. In the spring they get a beautiful bloom.
This small house is next to the Duke Gardens and I want to live there. I love the light blue tin roof. There's one like this in Mebane I've been eyeing. Could you imagine how sweet it would be to live next to the gardens? Why would you need to eat inside?
This bumblebee was completely docile. It sat very sweetly for lots of up close shots.
These are Chinese Ornamental peppers that really looked stunning. I could believe the colors. I've never seen a purple pepper.
I loved the way the color fades from white to green on this plant. I don't know what it's called, but I really love it!
I'm on my two week break for fall. I'm spending today being a couch potato because I can...but I do have plans:
1. Picking apples in the mountains with Kerri
2. Making apple butter
3. Finish my quilt
5. Start a new sewing project...I just can't decide what.
And then again...I wish I could make this dress!