Almost St Valentine's ❤️

 It's almost St. Valentine's Day 💖
It's a day I love.
When the kids were little, we had an advent for it.

Each day they got a little tid-bit in their mailbox.

When we first began doing it, they each had a tin cup,

and each morning they would check their tin cup

for a goody.

Then one year, I found little mailboxes.

Those filled with treats was their Valentine that year.

We kept them and used them each year after that.

I still have the tin cups and have given them their mailboxes.

There is even a larger tin cup with a label my daughter made,

because they had each made me a card or surprise.

Alas, my kids are grown.

I just mailed off a little Valentine package to each of them

in this morning's mail.

Several years ago, a friend shared some spice thins with me.

They were a store bought cracker/cookie 

that's now been discontinued.

They were delicious, and I finally found a recipe

 that is remarkably close and equally delicious.

I will share the link to the recipe I used at the end of this post.

So I made some of those and some button-ups.

Button-ups are essentially a shortbread cookie,

partially dunked in chocolate and topped with a cinnamon candy.

I also did some chocolate hearts but had them all boxed up

and had forgotten to take a picture.

Another fun little treat for this week is a blossom.

I have been given multiple starts 

of my great-grandmother's geranium plant.

Each and every one has met its fate.

It is a true deep red.

My mom gave me her plant (from Ggma) at the end of summer.

It needed trimming and was "spent" looking.

I kept 4 stems and stuck them in starter pots of soil.

Three have lived and one died.

Of the 3 that lived, 2 are blooming.

They are certainly a cheery sight during the winter gloom.

They have been fun and easy to propagate.

I don't have room inside so they only get a north facing window.

I guess they don't mind.

And the plant Ma gave me is looking good too.

On a side note:

I also have a pole bean and a tray of spinach planted.

I just can't help myself.

I purchased one of those little green houses on clearance last fall,

but it's still too cold for it.

I will probably set it up the end of the month and

see what kind of trouble I can cause in the garden.

(Never mind the dirty window.  Tis the season.)

All and all, blooms and treats~

It must be Valentine's.

Spice Thins / Pepparkakor

  

~ Quiet ~

 We are making our way through January aren't we?

We've had some wonderful snow storms

and some crazy wind

which actually blew the porch cover off the entrance 

to our house!

I won't go into the silly things that have been done

to this sweet old farm cottage in which we live.

There are better things to dwell upon.

Our temperatures being true winter temps.,

have put a hush on area.

It's one of those quiets you can hear. 

I actually like winter months and long evenings,

though I do miss our wood heat.

And by March, I am among the first chomping at the bit

to be out playing in the dirt.

But for right now I have plenty to do.

I would call this

"the time to keep."

In keeping our homes, there are so many tasks.

It's funny how easily they are overlooked when we are on the run,

but slow down for a few minutes or sit a little longer in the evening and you begin to notice.

How did that happen?

Or, when did that get there?

I will tell you, I have darned 5 pairs of socks

 and have 4 more pair yet to do!

I also saved what beans we harvested just to eat as beans

so have been shelling/cleaning those.

That has to be one of the most boring jobs ever,

but there's time to do it.

And I'm grateful for them.

We had such a strange summer with that "heat dome"

our garden and canning seemed off for the whole of summer.

I also finished the hand quilting

 of a quilt I started some time back.

I have 2 potholders to stitch the binding on and

another pair of socks started.

The first pair of socks I made (for me) fit my dad!

He likes them, says they are warm.  

I'm glad they were green and not pink and purple.

I am almost to the heal of the new sock.

The chickadees are still about and flutter around the feeder

where I can see and enjoy them.

We've now only traces of dirty snow where it was drifted.

Most of it is gone so everything looks grey.

It makes me want to sit and drink tea and read a book,

which I have done a little bit of.

I relish a good read and cup of tea time.

I've been reading "nice" books as a bit of a counter 

to all that is heard elsewhere.

Near my chair are:

"Country Chronicles" by Gladys Taber

"The New England Butt'ry Shelf Almanac" 

by Mary Mason Campbell

"Southern Jack Tales" by Donald Davis

I might start the second book in "The Little House" series.

I read the first book which was good.

I learned that she had originally written it for adults with a lot more description but was told by publishers that it was too dark.

So she rewrote it as she did aimed towards children.

Though dark, it makes me wonder if those original manuscripts still exist somewhere.

Her life wasn't easy.  What lessons we could learn.

And what gratitude it might provoke.

And lastly, I have open to read online, 

"The Lady's Annual Register and Housewife's Memorandum Book

for 1838" by Caroline Gilman

This is an interesting piece in that it will have a recipe,

a bit of poetry, instructions on how to clean a specific item,

information about a ladies' group, etc.

It seems very random but makes for quick reading if you only have a short time.

And since typing the above and having it nearly ready,

I came down with the virus.

It literally flattened me.

I am still recovering but am thinner and weaker at the moment.

I am slowly trying to get my house back in order.

It's amazing how those little things we do daily 

to keep the house all add up.

It will get there.

The perk of sleeping for 2 weeks straight is that I spent

zero dollars for 2 weeks.

Talk about saving money :-)

I am seeing how long I can go without any "extra" purchases,

meaning I will obviously pay our power or get milk etc. 

but no extra things.

We now have only 2 days until February 

and somehow as cold as the month is, 

it seems warmer with endearments since St. Valentine's Day

is a couple weeks in.

When the children were little,

we did an advent to St. V Day.

They loved it.

I've always liked St. Valentine's Day.

Love, Chocolate, & Flowers~

What's not to love?

I prefer to do my "Holiday" baking in February

because there is nothing else going on.

In December, we are always over extended so I don't like to 

add more to the list during that time.

Hopefully, I will be able to share what goodies 

I decide upon as it gets closer.

Until then,

keep well and warm dear friends. 

Glad Tidings of Christmastime ~ A Story for Young and Old

All across the mantel were pine greens and cones and red bows.

The bows were not velvet as seen in some of the more affluent homes but were made with more love and cheer than most of the velvet ones.  These bows however, were of a simple 

cotton and heavily starched so they looked crisp and bright.

To one side of the fireplace was a wood-box freshly piled

with split wood for warmth through the night 

and for the morning water pot.

source

That's the same wood box where little toes perched

in order to reach the nail where a little stocking was hung.

Next to that little stocking was a slightly larger one,

but no perch was needed to hang it.

And between those two stockings, there was a happy feeling 

that wasn't there the day before.

To know what brought that happy feeling about,

we must back up to the day before.

That little stocking usually warms the foot of a little girl

named Alice who has all of 6 years to her name.

The larger of the two stockings is that of her brother Billy

who is a very grown up 8 years old.

Billy had worked hard all year trying to save

 for a cake with white sugar and icing on it.

He was studious but had a sweet tooth and been saving all year

so that he might buy a ten-penny treat.

As hard as he worked, he was but able to save 7 pennies.

He was just a boy after all and those willing to pay a child 

for his labor were few.

The day before Christmas with scorn in his heart for himself and the disappointment of not having a ten penny treat by Christmas

as he had planed, Billy sat on the front step in the cold feeling sour and rolling the pennies in his hand.  As he was feeling such, his mind eventually wandered to Alice and what she might be thinking about Christmas.  She never seemed to mind

that there might be so little for Christmas.

It was then that an idea occurred to him.

He arose and headed into town.

He went directly to the stationary shoppe where old Mr. Watson

tended to customers wishing for specially cut cards and notes with script his young eyes could not yet read.

He spoke to Mr. Watson with some hesitation and explained his situation. He thought if he couldn't have what he wanted, at least Alice should have some happiness on Christmas morning.

She loved to draw and Billy knowing she had some papers 

hoped to find some colored pencils for her.  Every chance she had, Alice would walk through the store gazing in awe at all the finery and colorful papers.  After divulging his narrative rapidly for fear of it being rejected, he waited to hear a response.

  With large knowing eyes, Mr. Watson stood looking at young Billy silently for a moment.

He paused then said he thought he had just the thing

for a young budding artist and showed him some pencils that were 1 penny each.

Billy bought seven of them, one black and one each of the six basic colors.  He thanked Mr. Watson as he put the pencils in his pocket and left the shoppe to return home.

Mr. Watson watched Billy as he walked down the street.

It wasn't until another customer broke his thoughts with a question that he returned to his present task.

That evening Father read from the Bible how the baby Jesus

was born in a stable and wise men came to visit then he and Mother sent Billy and Alice to bed with Christmas in their hearts.

Ever so quietly as Alice was doddering to her bed, Billy

quickly pulled the pencils from his coat pocket and dropped them in her little stocking then followed quickly after her to his own bed.  They both shut their eyes with great anticipation for the following morning.

It was still dark when their eyes did open.  Only a faint light marking the beginning of the shortest day created shadows of trees and mountains out the window.

The two raced to Mother and Father's bedroom to wake them

for it was Christmas morning.

Pulling themselves out of bed with the help of two excited children, 

Mother and Father also rose.

They entered the parlor and Father got the fire going while Mother lit a lantern since it was earlier than they usually awoke.

She put the water on as Father said, "Well, let's see what we have here." He took the stockings from the mantel and handed them to their perspective owners.

In each, there was an orange and a peppermint stick.

Oh but there was more.

Alice put in her small hand and drew out a whole handful of beautiful new pencils.  And Billy drew out three pennies.  

Mother and Father looked at each other since

mothers and fathers have a way of knowing certain things.

The children looked bewildered.

Alice appeared more shocked than pleased causing Billy to question whether or not she liked the pencils.

"Don't you like your pencils?" Billy asked with a sinking heart.

"Oh Billy, they are perfect."

"Then why don't you look happy?"

With the awkward grace of a six year old, she blurted,

"I took my papers in to town to trade them so you could get 3 more pennies and have your ten penny treat."

Billy now had the same expression as Alice.

They both looked at Mother and Father.

Father is the one who spoke, "Well, I'll be. You two seem to have read each others mind.  Maybe just as the baby Jesus couldn't yet use the gifts He was given, you aren't meant to use your gifts just yet.  They are gifts of love just the same."

Still slightly bewildered how it all worked out but happy in their hearts, the family dressed and prepared for the day.  

As they were finishing their breakfast,

there was a faint knock at the door.

Father rose to answer it, but when he did, there was nobody there.  Instead at his feet was a small bundle.  He looked around once more, but there being only a cold wind and no snow, he could not even see tracks as to which direction the package might have come from.

He took the bundle inside and placed it on the table to open it.

The family gathered watching in wonderment as Father revealed sweet potatoes, some papers, and a ten penny treat.  Now this part stumped Mother and Father for they could find no sign of who left such a gift.

But back in town, there was one wide eyed old man with a very happy and knowing heart.

And that Christmas day, 

there was great joy for both sides of the mystery. 

 

Golden People

 We've had quite the schedule for the past month or two.

It's autumn which is harvest in our neck of the woods.

Last month started off with a trip to California for my grandmother's funeral.

She actually passed last year.

Her only request was a traditional Catholic funeral.

Well, it wasn't exactly traditional due to circumstances.

Her graveside service was last year, and we only this year

11 months after her passing were able to hold her funeral.

In a way, it kinda worked out.

She was 96, only a few months shy of 97 and was ready.

Our grieving was done, and we were able to gather

and celebrate her life and cherish the time spent with family.

It was a pretty small service.

She outlived most of her peers.

My aunt had asked us each to jot down a few things we remembered

or loved about her so they could put together a eulogy.

One of the things I mentioned was

she would wipe off and reuse a paper plate, save a tablespoon of food,

and be among the first to give if someone was in need.

I love that!

She always took care of her things.

She washed her car, windows, floors, etc. and

kept things in the best condition she could.

She grew up during the depression so knew the true value of things.

She never had a lot, but made the most of what she had.

When my aunt asked if there was anything in particular I wanted,

I didn't really have an answer - just my Grammy.

My aunt is wonderful, and I can say such things.

I told her if there was something silly like Grams favorite wooden spoon

or something she used and liked, I wouldn't mind something like that.

For my birthday, she sent me the fork and knife in the photo.

It was actually my great grandmother's then my grandmother's.

Both were very right handed so the left tine is worn.

I was young when she passed, but I remember my great grandma too.

I would sit on her lap, and she would let me have a lemon drop.

We almost never had candy so it was quite a treat.

This little set was the perfect gift, more valuable to me than gold.

And, yep, I use them.

They went directly in the cupboard with the salt and pepper

so I have them handy when I need them.

(Uncle Ray & Aunt Betty - brother and sister)

They are a wonderful reminder to me to take care of things so they'll last

which is kinda funny since for the past year or two,

I've been on a mission to have things in order and good condition.

I've had two chairs repaired which wasn't cheap,

but they are both antiques and were due.

They should both now last another 100 years.

I always seem to have a mend & repair pile.

I no sooner get the bulk of it dealt with when more goes in.

I've also been trying to keep the car up, the appliance clean and in good repair, and

the little things attended to if that makes sense.

There's more to all this though.

You see, there were a couple folks at Grammy's funeral of special importance.

Well, everyone there was important, but. . .

Uncle Ray and Aunt Betty were there.

Grammy's two remaining siblings.

Uncle Ray just turned 99 and is doing pretty good.

Aunt Betty is 97 and doesn't remember very well, but otherwise okay.

Grammy was between them in age.

I don't exactly get to California very often

so it's tough telling if I will ever get to see them again just due to age.

The time spent visiting with them and the stories about them

are what makes a family and keeps those ties snug.

When someone begins a story with,

"I'll tell ya something I can't tell most normal people,"

you know you're in the right place.

I know not everyone has a close family,

but a closely knit group of friends and community can still be had.

I think that's one of the things that's been difficult for me

over the past year or so: everyone seems so distant (not just physically).

The reminder being, we need to take care of our family

just like we need to take care of our things.

We need our family - by blood or by choice.

If you do have elderly folks in your clan,

maybe pay them a visit or a call.

That chat might just be worth more than gold.

And the memory made might just last a good long time.

As we head into the holidays,

I'd like to wish all of my blog friends here

a very blessed time.

~Happy Thanksgiving~