Sparkle

Hello Everybody!

I know I've been away for FOREVER it seems!

Actually, I've still been right here in the same old place,

doing the same old things and being the same old me. 

I've been living life on Main Street USA, minding doggies and grandchildren, sipping tea on the front porch with my knitting and enjoying as much of the summertime with my family and friends as I can squeeze in on the days

the heat and humidity don't choke us all nearly to death. 

Here's a sample of a few of the things I've been working on lately...

Baby socks in lovely Dusty Pink Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

I just love this yarn for baby items!

Some Knitted Rose Brooches using this gorgeous multicolored Gina Wool by Plymouth Yarn Company that I can't get enough of lately, I'm so in love with it!

And a Crocheted Shawl I made for myself to wear to a wedding that you'll see wrapped around me further down in the post. I used Happy Feet 100 Sock Weight Yarn by Plymouth Yarn Company in Color Number 206 {Orchid}, which comes in 100g hanks. I used exactly 157 grams to make this shawl.

The fiber content is a fabulously soft 90% merino wool and 10% nylon.

It blocked out beautifully.

For those of you who don't follow my Instagram and Facebook,

you may not realize the reason for my long sabbatical on here...

On May 22nd, the same day my sweet little grandson Parker

became a BiG 3 year old,

Scott's stepfather, my father-in-law, for all intents and purposes, of 25 years, went home to be with the Lord at the age of 89. He and my dear Mother-in-law live next door to us, as I know I've mentioned before. So, it's been a summer full of a whole range of emotions while we rejoice in the little ones running around growing happier and healthier by the day... 

We are also helping our precious Mother cope with widowhood

for yet the second time in her life.

On Memorial Day, the day after she sat through another military burial for a husband, the first one Army, the second one Marines,

Scott and I took her to visit the grave of his father, as we always do.

Twice in her life now she has endured a Twenty-One Gun Salute,

the playing of Taps and been handed the American Flag

as a Thank You for the service her husband has given to this Great Nation.

And still, at the age of 91, she carries on... I ask you, who is the real soldier here?

Now I know it's all the circle of Life and we all have much to be thankful for.

It has just taken me a bit of down time to get through it all.

I am basically wired to be a happy person and I bounce back easily, so to speak, for the most part. Therefore, I am working on still getting my sparkle on as well as enjoying Life in the moment. There is so much Joy in living. All I have to do is look in the faces of my loved ones and there it is...

We have had two beautiful weddings of close friends

and have one more coming up in September.

All with the same group of these special lifelong friends.

All happy times to look forward to...

Memories in the making...

So as the Summer progresses,

I am working on getting my sparkle back...

So just bear with me...

I'm still here.

"At the end of the day,

your feet should be dirty,

your hair messy and

your eyes sparkling."

Shanti

Silver & Gold

December is a busy time for all. A month that's full of preparation and reflection.

This year was a whirlwind around here as we had a granddaughter in

The Nutcracker.

There was a week of dress rehearsals every day leading up to a weekend with three beautiful, magical performances.

This month that brings each year to a close also marks another wedding anniversary for me every time it rolls around. At the age of nineteen, thirty-three years ago, I said, "I Do" on a cold, frosty December night. The temperature was twenty-one degrees below zero with a big, fluffy snow blizzard whipping all around us.

The church was lit only by candlelight and a Christmas tree.

We were married in the midst of a Winter Wonderland.

I will never forget it.

December 17th remains my favorite day of the year.

I look forward to it with the anticipation of a little child at Christmastime.

This year, December brought some unexpected sadness along with it too.

As I mentioned in my last post,

my family suffered the loss of my beloved cousin Kari.

I attended her services in a quick trip to Chicago

{there and back home in one day}.

These are some old photo's I would like to share with you...

Grandpa holding: Me, Judi, Kari

Grandma holding: Kari, Judi, Me

Kari, Me, Judi

I love these old memories and actually think of them often.

As hard as funerals are, the good thing about them is being reunited with family.

This is a picture of my sister and me with my cousin Scott,

who is Kari and Judi's brother.

It's been too long since we've all been together.

Bridget, Scott, Me

Time has marched on, as it does, and Christmas is here.

I have been knitting to fill orders and knitting for fun.

This is the last local order that went out.

Phew!

And then a few knitted Christmas trees for some last minute fun.

Miss Kitty is enjoying the big tree as usual.

Before I leave you to nestle in and enjoy the season with your loved ones,

 I would like to say,

The greatest thing I believe this year has taught me is

that every part of the journey of our lives

is lined with Silver and flecked with Gold.

The days of old... memories we hold so dear...

Friends and family and whispers of yesteryear gone by,

like Silver linings around the edges of our hearts and minds for all our days.

Then bright, shiny, new people and events entering our world all of the time,

like flecks of Gold.

So much to be Thankful for.

And I would love to share my favorite Christmas recipe with you.

Old Fashioned Gingerbread

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter

1 Egg

1 Cup Molasses

2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour

1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Ginger

1/2 Teaspoon Cloves {ground}

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup Hot Water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray 9 or 10 " pan with cooking spray.

*I use a round pan and cut mine in pie shaped pieces.

The original recipe calls for a square pan*

In large bowl, cream together sugar & butter.

Beat in egg and mix in molasses.

In separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt & spices.

Blend into creamed mixture. Stir in the hot water.

Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for approximately 1 hour, but watch closely

{mine is always done in 40-45 minutes}.

Check center with a toothpick.

Allow to cool in pan before serving.

Best when served still warm with whipped cream.

Yield: 12 Servings

Whipped Cream

2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream

1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar

2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla

Chill metal or plastic bowl in freezer for 15 - 20 minutes, along with beaters.

Whip COLD cream on MEDIUM {so cream does not become buttery}

until almost stiff. Add sugar and vanilla.

Beat until cream holds stiff peaks.

Can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 hours before serving.

Enjoy!

May this Christmas Eve find you Warm and Cozy

as you share the love of the holiday with your family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

With Love,

Danette

A Step Back In Time

I always love the feeling that washes over me the instant I walk into an Antique Shop. It's like taking a step back in  time. My Mother, Sister and I made the rounds yesterday for our weekly outing together. As we were admiring all the lovely handwork and old fine furnishings, Bridget said how much she loves the simplicity of the way the pioneer women lived. I agreed. Then about 30 seconds later I said if they were alive today they would sure set us straight on the meaning of the word "simplicity"!

Now this would have been a modern convenience for a pioneer woman but I sure can't imagine having to cook on it. For one thing, look how low it is. Talk about a back breaker! And I'm just a smidge over 5'3". For someone tall that would be crazy!

But I wouldn't mind having it just for looks :)

This rooster caught my eye because he took me back to my childhood.

My grandparents were chicken farmers.

Lots of happy memories of playing in the sunshine and running through the cornfields with my cousins as we were growing up.

How lovely is this?

My Mother has always had a thing for these.

I love the dresser scarf too.

This chair was gorgeous!

 

But what did I come home with?

Because you know I had to have some little SOMETHING.....

This charming accent lamp!

Isn't it unusual?

I've never seen one quite like it.

I LOVE vintage lamps.

This one sits very prettily on my dresser.

It has different flowers on each side.

And look at that darling scallop along the top edge.

Yep, I had to have it!

I love to look at old things like this and wonder who owned them before.

Then I think of the years I will enjoy them until I pass them on to one of my daughters or granddaughter.

And honestly, I think they are happy for the time they spend with me :)