In the Presence of Angels

Spring seems to have danced right on by. 

I've found myself at the end of June and halfway through my summer classes. 

I have loved being a college student again after all of these years.

 It has certainly kept me occupied.

 Most of my time is spent reading and writing papers.

 Thankfully, those are two of my favorite pursuits.

 Another thing I enjoy immensely is the ballet,

 especially when my granddaughter is performing.

Last weekend Gabby danced in Ballet Under the Stars. 

This was Peoria Ballet's first time to offer this free production

at the Glen Oak Park. 

It was spectacular.

 The first photo shows her dancing a number from the ballet Giselle. 

The evening was quite warm, 

which caused Gabby's cheeks to take on the same beautiful rosy pink as her tutu.

At one point, I caught Gabby in midair.

 She looks as though she's in flight in this photo. 

That's one of my favorite things about dance.

 I love the way the body moves and sets the spirit within free. 

The expression that is sometimes caught

on a dancer's face in a single moment can

move an audience to great depths of feeling. 

I love it when I see them working the stage with all of their passion. 

The art of dance is really in a world all its own. 

It brings the inner beauty of the dancer's soul 

out for us mere mortals to experience.

At the end of it all, we glide softly back to earth. 

Though particles of the celestial cling to us as we go.

 For no one is ever truly the same after an hour or so 

spent in the presence of angels.

"Dance is another way of putting things. 

If it could be said in words, it would be;

 but outside of words,

outside of painting, outside of sculpture, 

inside the body is an interior landscape 

which is revealed in movement."

Martha Graham

(1894-1991)

                       *This post is kindly sponsored by Paperless Post

                                All sentiments and selections and events are my own.*

Silent, and Soft, and Slow

Yes Christmas has come and gone again already.

It comes in a hustle and leaves with a flurry...

But I am always reluctant to let it go and so I hang on for just a bit longer...

And though I love Summer days of open house breezes and carefree front porch swinging, there is still something about a crisp, cold, clear, sparkling, snowy Winter that is almost magical to me at times. The sight of the bright January sunshine drenching a fresh fallen snow and transforming it into a field of glittered white takes my breath away, even from my kitchen window.

I just have to stop and give thanks for the glorious beauty of it all.

Though all the presents have been given and received, the mess torn away and disposed of, I am still feeling quite festive. The Spirit of Christmas lingers on with me during these cold, snowy days of the new year. It has been so long since I created a blog post that I have so many things to share.    
Therefore, this one will look a bit like Christmas
and for those of you who follow my
Facebook pages or Instagram, it will be somewhat of a repeat. Sorry about that!

I made these pretty faire isle knitted hats early in the season using

 Flax Down from Purl Soho.

This yarn is so soft and scrumptious you have to feel it to believe it... and it comes in the most wonderful soft, subtle colors. Definitely a favorite luxury fiber of mine. So if you want to treat yourself, or a friend to something special in the new year, make it using this fabulous fiber.

{or contact me for something custom ;-) }

Of course there were stockings and mitts crocheted and knit up as well.

There were hats galore with big fluffy pom poms... because somehow we all seemed to know we needed to make ready for the frosty days that lay ahead and nothing warms body and soul as well as soft, hand knitted items made of merino wool, alpaca, cashmere and love.

There was even a custom order on my Etsy Shop for some tiny stocking caps with pom poms

and little pumpkins to be used as egg cozies.

I guess even the eggs were anticipating a cold winter...

There were mittens too.

Knit in that same exquisite Purl Soho Flax Down fiber. 

The first Saturday of December ushered the Christmas Season into my home with my annual Christmas Open House. There were five of us here this year selling our handmade items and baked goods. It was our best year ever with a heartwarming turnout of nearly one hundred people passing through the house during the day. We were overjoyed. And again, if you were one of those people, we thank you and we look forward to seeing you here again every year on

the first Saturday in December. 

The following weekend in December brought us to Peoria Ballet's Nutcracker Performance with my granddaughter Gabby having three roles this year. I have pictures of her in just two of her costumes.

It was a beautiful performance. Not only did I have the pleasure of watching from the audience but I chaperoned during the Saturday evening performance and was able to watch some of it from the stage.

All in all it's been a wonderful, magical and very blessed holiday season.

And as I said before, my spirit still lingers in Christmastide... after all, the twelve days of Christmas start on December 25th so I'm not so very behind. Although others around me are pulling down their decorations and storing them till next Christmas I'm not quite there yet. My kitchen cupboards still look festive and there are corners of the house that bear traces of old fashioned yuletide.

It all looks Wintry to me so I'll keep it for just a while longer...

I'm still enjoying steaming hot cups of my favorite Christmas teas too.

Harney & Sons Holiday Tea

and my absolute favorite

Taylors of Harrogate

Spiced Christmas Tea

One promise I made to myself was that after a year full of nonstop knitting for "work" I would take just a little break and make one thing for me  before starting up the new work year. Once again, expecting a cold winter, I decided on a new pair of mittens.

There are a few reasons for this choice:

1) My hands are always cold

2) My custom order book already has orders into Eastertime,

therefore I needed something that I could knit quickly

3) Mittens are my all time favorite thing to knit

4) Whether it be real mittens or even cookies shaped like mittens,

all things mitten - like  warm my heart and bring out my inner child...

for some reason they cause great delight in me.

I have the first one finished and am actually further along on the second one than this picture shows.

Here are the details in case you are interested in making some yourself.

The pattern is very well written and easy to follow and the yarn shows the stitch definition beautifully, making the cable work stand out perfectly.

So here goes...

I ordered the kit from Kitterly

and you can find it right here

Tin Can Knits Grayling Pattern

It will let you choose from a good selection of colors of Ewe Ewe Yarns So Sporty

which is a 100% Merino Wool Superwash. I chose Brushed Silver 

The kit includes a set of double point needles and a cable needle.

My gorgeous Rosewood Yarn Bowl is from Knit Picks.

Click the link to go straight to it if you're interested in it. 

I have to say I really love mine.

I pray this finds you all having had a very

Blessed Holiday Season

and entering the New Year in 

Good Health and Great Joy

with the special

Peace of Winter

settling in around you.

As for me I am taking things...

Silent,

and

Soft,

and 

Slow...

{just like the Winter Snow...}

for a little while...

And praying that in this New Year I will be filled anew with

"the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, 

to the glory and Praise of God." 

Philippians 1:11

Snowflakes

Out of the bosom of the air,

Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,

Over the woodland brown and bare,

Over the harvest fields forsaken,

Silent, and soft, and slow

Descends the snow.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Stay Gold

In this ever changing world of people doing things to their fellow man
that we cannot understand; that leave us gasping for breath and wondering...how?...why?... I still believe in the deep down goodness and great capacity that we have to love one another. My last few weeks have been quite interesting and full to the brim. In the midst of devastating world events and a very local school shooting threat, I have, in my personal realm, been touched so deeply by the warmth and kindheartedness of some very beautiful people.

In the heat of my mad dash week of preparations for the annual Pumpkin Festival Craft Faire a precious friend and neighbor had supper delivered to our front door, knowing that I was just crazy busy and wanting to help in some way. Mind you, she has an extremely hectic household of her own with six children but she was determined to lighten my load. My other friend and neighbor tagged my items and stamped my bags with my business name, as she does every year, around taking care of her four children. The friend and neighbor who lives in the middle of these two and directly across the street from me sent food over hot off her grill one night while she herself  was also preparing for the Pumpkin Festival and caring for her three little ones. This is the community I live in. These are the golden hearts that God has placed just within my reach. We run back and forth across the street when there's a need and we look after one another. To me this is Life at its very finest ... Life as it's meant to be... and I am so very, very thankful.

I've also been blessed by visits from friends who I've enjoyed lovely front porch conversations with. Some of them have shown up with fresh flowers from their gardens in hand for me. Others have brought home baked cookies or pumpkin scones. I've put on the kettle for tea or made them coffee. Together we are squeezing every last drop of pleasant porch time we can before the air turns to chill and forces us indoors again.  They are helping me create memories that I am storing in my heart for the long winter ahead. Each one being its own golden ray of sunshine in my soul.

Of course while we talk, I knit... and knit... and knit some more.

Autumn means lovely little pumpkins and I am just about to wrap up my custom orders on them for this year as I move on to other items to prepare for my upcoming Christmas event. I have knit so many pumpkins this year! I have to say, I think I've enjoyed them more than ever before. Like a dear friend said when she saw a ton of them all loaded together in a big basket before being sorted for individual orders,

"It's like having a litter of puppy's! It's going to be hard to let them go!"

The other thing I knit continuously every Fall

is fingerless mitts in various styles and colors.

Everyone seems to love them. I even have people who prefer them on the coldest of days because they still want their fingers free while driving. Plus a lot of us tend to have cold hands even inside, like my daughter, who wears them to work to keep her hands warm and her fingers free for typing on her computer. 

They tend to be my top selling item.

Some are knit in a DK weight lacework pattern

with a lush blend of merino wool and cashmere.

Others are chunky, cable knits in a soft blend

of merino wool, alpaca and Donegal tweed.

And I have to get my hooks into crocheting some as well, 

with this wonderful merino wool and bamboo fiber.

Although I do as much of my knitting as I possibly can sitting on the swing on my front porch, while weather permits, I have another favorite spot I love to go to knit once a week. Thankfully knitting is portable so I take my work with me wherever I go. One evening a week I take my granddaughter, Gabby, to ballet. She has two classes that together last 2 1/2 hours. This provides me with wonderful knitting time in one of my favorite coffee shops. Also I get to visit with the other customers and employees.

This week I spent time talking to a young man who I've seen in there many times. He's a regular. A friend of the manager. Through the course of our conversation I was very touched by his outlook on life. His desire to live simply and enjoy the smallest things in life... to quite literally find joy in living. We talked about several things. We talked about his siblings, my husband and children and grandchildren, happiness, God and what it's like to be content with our lives, comfortable in our own skin and thankful for everyday life

in a world that is plugged in and disconnected all at the same time.

And here's the thing...

this young man has been confined to a wheelchair all of his life

due to cerebral palsy.

Yet it is well with his soul.

He has figured out how to stay gold.

When the evening was over he thanked me for an "enjoyable conversation"...

Some people absolutely amaze me.

Though it may not seem like it at times,

there are still so many truly good people out there.

We have to look for the good in others and continue to try to connect.

Somewhere inside each of us is that carefree child of eternal summertime, turning a face toward the sunshine and believing that the world is full of hope and beauty and will be forever a place of gold.

"Stay gold, Ponyboy... Stay gold..."

{continue to be innocent and pure}

Johnny ~ The Outsiders

"I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well."

Psalm 139:14

Speaking of Angels ...

Who turned the clock from midsummer to the first week of December when I wasn't looking? That's what it feels like, isn't it? We all know what order the months have in our calendar and that they never change but for some reason I always seem to be taken suddenly unaware when Christmastide is upon us once again, like Dorothy looking down at red shoes on a path in a different land...

Just yesterday I was knitting on my front porch swing with my dogs and birdcages outside, feeding my squirrels {which I still do} and now I'm wrapped up by a fireplace with extra socks and a sweater. Of course for me the one thing that remains the same, no matter the season or weather, is that I always have a steaming cup of tea while knitting... yes ... even in the heat. Can't help that. Must be fueled to work. I must say, this time of year it adds to the coziness of things.

I also have to insert here that I really, really do love Christmas and everything about it. That's why I got married just eight days before Christmas thirty three years ago. It's just that it always seems to sneak up on me.

For those of you who don't follow my Instagram and don't know it, I had an annual event in my home this last Saturday, which is one of the reasons I have been silent here on my blog for longer than intended. My fingers have been flying over lots of fiber in preparation.

Not to mention just a bit of housework and decorating. If you'll look closely at the first picture you will notice my Christmas tree has only lights and no ornaments on it. That's because I always wait until after our Sale to decorate it. We fill it with items that are For Sale on the day of the event.

This year's Christmas Tea & Sale went beautifully. There were four Fiber Artist's involved, including myself plus heavenly handmade, organic body butter and sugar scrub from another local vendor.

We served Cinnamon Coffee and Christmas Tea along with a variety of home baked goodies.

Our customers enjoyed their sweet treats and many of our fiber arts flew out the front door as though on the wings of angels. Every single thing about the day was lovely. If YOU were here I would like to say "Thank You".

Speaking of Angels...

As many of you know, my nine year old granddaughter, Gabriella

{one of my Angels here on Earth}, is a ballet dancer with Peoria Ballet. She was meant to dance two roles, one being a rather large role, in this years Nutcracker performance on December 10 & 11, however, she has a fractured tibia due to the fact she has grown six inches in the last two years. The doctor says this is twice the amount she should have grown in that time period, therefore that particular bone was not able to keep up with the rapid growth spurt.  

When my daughter explained the situation to the Executive Director at Peoria Ballet she said Gabby could still be onstage just standing and not dancing. She said injuries are so common in the world of dance and they figure out a way to work around them because the children work so very hard all year long to be in the performance and they are heartbroken if they are unable to participate. She's right. Gabby was heartbroken and this made all the difference.

Thank You Executive Director...

Now that's an Angel in action if you ask me.

And now though I'd like to join Miss Puss in her Winter's nap...

I really must decorate the Christmas tree because this weekend will be busy with

The Nutcracker and next Monday we will be having our

Knit Night Christmas Party here.

So much to be happy and thankful for during this Joyful and Festive Season.

May you all be very Merry & Blessed.

"I expect to pass through this world but once.

If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show,

or any good thing I can do any fellow human being let me do it now.

Let me not defer or neglect it,

for I will not pass this way again."

Stephen Grellet

1773-1855

As I was in the midst of writing this post I received a call from my Dad to tell me that my beloved cousin passed away in her sleep Sunday night. We grew up very close. She is one of the little girls I talk about in a previous post entitled

The Nearness of God.

Her name was Kari. She was just thirteen months older than me, making her only 53 years old.

In her late thirties she suffered a brain aneurysm and over the course of years has had twenty eight brain surgery's. She passed away unexpectedly but peacefully, in her sleep in the night at her sisters home after attending a Christmas Open House with her. So I will be making a trip to the Chicago area this Thursday to attend her services. Your prayers for my family at this time are much appreciated.

She was my Aunt's firstborn child.

I am heartbroken at the loss of her. I will carry her in my heart all the days of my life and return often to those carefree days of our childhood... days full of laughter and sunshine... days of running through cornfields and playing dress up with Grandma's aprons.

Rest in Peace My Sweet Kari,

Once again you're floating in a world that knows no time,

And Thankfully, no pain.

&

God Bless You All.

A Good and Faithful Servant

Arch E. Bartelmay, Jr. October 19, 1919 - September 5, 1987

This is my father in law,

Arch E. Bartelmay, Jr.
Sergeant in the United States Army in WW2.
He fought with the Thunderbirds in the 45th Infantry Division.
This picture was taken when he was home on leave sometime in 1944.
He's standing in his backyard just two doors over from where we live.
My mother in law still lives in the house between the old home place and ours.
We will celebrate her 90th birthday next month.

This photo was taken somewhere in France.

It's actually a postcard.

We don't know who the original writer was.

The addition of his name is my writing.

Sadly, we don't know who he's pictured with

nor whether his friend survived the war.

We honor his memory and his service to our country along with Arch's however,

by keeping this postcard in a frame in our foyer.

My Father in law was in five major landings and one H - Hour.

He fought the bloody Battle of Anzio alongside his Thunderbird compatriots.

Their slogan was "Semper Anticus"

Always Forward.

When General George S. Patton described the 45th Infantry Division,

he said it was

"one of the finest, if not the finest infantry division

in this history of modern warfare."

High praise from a man who was known to be more critical than complimentary.

Here he is pictured with his father, Arch Bartelmay, Sr.

who is holding one of his grandchildren,

Mary Beth,

daughter of Dale,

one of my father in law's many brothers.

He was from a family of eleven.

Eight boys and three girls.

Grandma Bartelmay had five sons fighting in WW2 at the same time.

I cannot even imagine such a thing.

One thing I know,

there must have been a lot of prayer involved.

Each one of those sons of hers came home alive.

Arch was her son who saw the most action.

At one point when he was on a transport ship, well into the war,

the commanding officer on board called for him.

He ordered him to walk back and forth in front of him.

Then he wanted to shake his hand.

He said,

"I just wanted to see you walk and shake the hand of a man

who has survived all you have been through.

You shouldn't be alive at this point.

Is there anything I can do for you?"

My father in law's response,

"No Sir, Not where I'm going..."

And soon he was back in the thick of it.

His war took him through North Africa, France, Italy and Germany,

eventually earning him five battle stars.

The 45th Infantry Division was recognized as a liberating unit by the

US Army's Center of Military History and the United States

Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1985.

They liberated the camp at Dachau.

My father in law was home on leave when that took place.

Casualty figures for the 45th Infantry:

Total Battle casualties: 7,791

Total Deaths in Battle: 1,831

Yet my father in law made it home alive.

God had a plan.

Thankfully, he married and had two sons.

I married his second born.

 So like his father in many ways.

Strong, quiet, gentle.

A Survivor.

One survived a war when so many around him fell.

The other survived Pancreatic Cancer when most don't.

With a heart full of thanks, I salute them both.

Arch eventually became the Sheriff of his home county.

Upholding law and order.

Just another form of the freedom fighting he was born to.

He seldom spoke of his wartime experiences,

however when he dozed off in front of the television he was there again,

reliving something from forty years ago.

We would hear him cry out to wounded men in foxholes

as he feverishly tried to help them one more time,

probably in hopes the outcome would finally be different.

His final battle came in the form of lung cancer.

It was short and swift.

Although we were not ready to let him go,

I think the Lord knew this was one soldier who had already

fought enough battles for one lifetime

so he called him home to his final reward and let him rest.

Scott and Gabby at Arch's grave, Memorial Day 2016

"Well done good and faithful servant."

Matthew 25:23

We will never forget his love and service to his family and his country.

Pink Champagne and Roses Cake

Pink Champagne and Roses Cake

Let stand at Room Temperature:

6 Egg Whites

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In Medium Bowl Mix:

3 Cups All Purpose Flour

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder

3/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda

In Large Bowl Beat:

3/4 Cup Crisco for 30 seconds

Add:

2 2/3 Cup Sugar

1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla

8 - 10 Drops Red Food Coloring

Beat until well combined.

Gradually add egg whites, beating well after each addition.

Alternately add flour mixture and 2 Cups of Champagne to beaten mixture.

Batter will look curdled but will smooth out.

Heavily spray a Rose Bundt Pan with cooking spray.

Pour batter in evenly.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes.

Ovens vary and this recipe and pan can be tricky.

Check for doneness and continue baking as needed.

Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 - 30 minutes.

Turn cake out.

When completely cooled drizzle with glaze.

Champagne Glaze

3 Cups Sifted Confectioner's Sugar

3 Tablespoons of Champagne

1/2 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla

Stir in additional champagne one teaspoon at a time

until icing reaches glazing consistency.

Makes one cup.

*May substitute Sparkling Juice for Champagne throughout recipe.

Though there might be a little extra work involved in this recipe,

once this elegant cake reaches your mouth,

it will be well worth the effort.

I first made one years ago when Hilary,

my eldest daughter, graduated from high school.

Instead of ordering the traditional graduation cake

I made several choices for our party quests and this one was the favorite.

The one pictured here, however, was not baked by me.

My son in law Eric, who is married to my daughter Chelsea, baked this lovely cake.

Eric...

Jack of All Trades...

Licensed Cosmetologist

Talented Artist and Sculptor

Wood Worker

Fed Ex Employee

Fabulous Father

Baker Extraordinaire

&

Son of My Heart