Mutual Admiration Society

It has been a week since Vivien left for home.
In Grammy years, that adds up to about 6 months.
I have left some of her toys out and the high chair is still at it's post as if I expect her for lunch.
But she is at her home with her Daddy and Mama and that is how it should be.
But oh, how I miss her.
As you can see from the photo of us on Mimi's swing, we are both holding onto each other for all it is worth.
So today I get a call from Eldest/Admin.
She asks if I could Skype awhile.
It appears that Miss Viv was walking around with her pretend phone and rambling to an unknown person.  Her mama asks her, 'Vivie, do you want to talk to Mimi?', she responds by running to the staircase toward the front door, calling, "Mimi! Mimi!" Thinking I was coming to visit.  E/A thought that since she obviously wanted to see me, a Skype might be in order.

Vivie and I talked for awhile, me asking her if she likes her new toddler bed, if she had fun with her daddy at the pool the other night, if she enjoyed playing with her buddies, Ollie and Will the other day.
I am told that there was quite a bit of smiling and nodding on the other end.

Vivien and I had a Vulcan Mind Meld from the time I first laid eyes on her and her slightly impaired newborn eyes laid a peek at me.  We just get it.  We just know that we belong to each other.  When she reaches for me as I pass by, when I hear her cry my name when she is getting 'disciplined', I melt.

I was in the grocery store today and overheard this conversation a few check out lanes from me.
Small child,' I want to go to Grandma's house!'  Heart melted.
Harried mama in loud voice: 'SHUT UP!'  Heart broken.

There is indeed a hallowed relationship between a Mimi and her grandchild.
If you have none, please find one today.
You might check in the grocery store.....

Summer Reading

Summer Reading is different from Winter Reading.
There is a lighter, quicker approach from the 'sit for hours next to the fire with a huge novel' type of read in the winter.

I found these two books fitting the bill for my Lighter Summer Reading Fare.

A Thousand Years Over a Hot Stove by Laura Schenone came to me via Pretend Daughter Kris during the Retreat.  She had brought it with her to finish up and nosy me, always interested in a new book, picked it up and found it fascinating. My local library system did not have it, but thanks to a wondrous loaning system, I received a copy from Indianapolis in no time.  The book is awash in stories of women and how and why they do what they do in the kitchen from time immemorial.  I can pick it up, read a section, look at historic photos, then put it down.  Then another section in another part of the book.  Not even in order.  A perfect summer ADHD read.  Thank you, PDK, for reading it and bringing it to my attention!

The second one, I found out about on the radio.  Our local Moody Radio Station (http://moodyministries.net )carries Nancy Leigh DeMoss (http://reviveourhearts.com) in the morning, usually when I 'm sewing.  I found the interview riveting and very relatable to my place now in life.  I'll read through it once, then go through and go over all the reflection and action sections in each chapter with Crazy Dee.  Not actually a technical Bible Study; merely a direction, advisory book with thought provoking questions determined to keep you from wasting your second half pining away for what was.  Good read.

Find a porch with air conditioning and spend some time in a book today.

Whatever! Stuffed Peppers

/Funny Thing: After making this dish, Hubby and I were watching Christina Cooks on Create PBS, and she made a very similiar recipe for Stuffed Peppers  However, Christina is Very Vegan and I am a very liberal carnivore.  This recipe rates a happy moderate with high ratings from Youngest Son.

Whatever Stuffed Peppers: Here's the thing, most of this recipe is made from leftovers that I had in my fridge.  But you might have something that is similiar that would work as well.  Let us see....

3 cups long grain rice (wild or brown would be good too)  I used leftover rice from a turkey kielbasa recipe that I made Monday for supper.

1 cup of cooked chicken (leftovers from Sunday Dinner)

4 Green peppers from the FM on Saturday; 4 for a 1.00 (Christina used roasted red peppers) Cut from the top and clean out well

1 small onion chopped

1 can tomato sauce

4 basil leaves from your garden, chopped nicely (don't you just love the smell of chopped basil?? heavenly...)

1 tbls chopped oregano from your garden

2 tsps parsley from  your or someone else's garden (:D)

2 tsps raw sugar

2 tsps sea salt

1/8 cup red wine

1 clove garlic, crushed

Parboil the peppers in a small amount of water (don't mine look particularly attractive in my red pot from Crazy Dee?) Parboiling is cooking/steaming just a bit to soften but not mushing the peppers; makes them pliable

Mix the sauce ingredients (in green print) I just use the can to mix it all up in then stir it with a knife. Just do it to save clean up. I know.Combine the rice and the chicken and the onion together; add a third of the sauce to the mixture; stuff the peppers with the chicken/rice/sauce mixture.

Place the peppers in an oven proof casserole and add the rest of the sauce and rice mixture if you have more than you need to stuff the peppers.  I sprinkled some Italian Bread Crumbs over the tops then added about a cup of shredded mozzarella over it all.  Bake at 350 degrees till cheese is melty and a bit brown.
Peppers will be very hot for some time after removal so be careful!
And enjoy you not-very-vegan meal!
(We added some of our Farmer's Market corn on the cob to round out the loveliness....!)

p.s.  Would you like the Turkey Kielbasa recipe too?? An oldie but a goodie....!

Farmer's Market Bag!

Every Saturday, as I get ready for the Farmer's Market, I think of how fortunate those of us in isolated Southern Indiana are to have such an assortment of fresh grown, mostly organic produce.  The FM is truly a highlight in these southern counties and I for one like to celebrate it.  While getting ready for The Retreat this summer, I thought it was only fitting that my guests should have their own Market Bag to corral all their purchases.  It was during that process that I received my first copy of MaryJane's Farm magazine.  Within it's wondrous innards, I was pleased as punch to find the pattern for the Perfect Market Bag.  Sensibility told me that to make eleven of them in time for The Retreat, was a bit of a stretch.  But maybe one.  Maybe mine, could be the first of many MaryJane Farm's Upcycled Market Bags!  It got taken out for it's maiden voyage this past Saturday.  I must say, I felt rather proud wearing an official Market Bag.  Especially when a lady in a crocheted products booth was eyeing it carefully.  I could see her trying to figure out the pattern from where she sat.  This little sweetie is embarrassingly easy and you can bet that there will be more to come.  Eldest/Admin wanted it terribly, but she saw that the practicality for her, armed with baby paraphernalia, would probably not be doable.  She did, however, order one with longer handles for her Mama Multihanded Needs.  Could I alter the pattern?  With sisal twine invested, you can't really waste for the effort!  I shall attempt this challenge!

So my Little Market Bag shall accompany me every Saturday.  I shall trade my blackberries, corn, tomatoes and wee little Amish pies soon for squash and more autumnal veggies.
But probably not the books.  As you can see, Youngest Son, scored quite a pile again this week.  He's on his own carrying his Book Obsession. 
Or maybe.  Maybe he needs a Mega Mama Made Market Bag for his book purchases.....!!

Hmmmmmmm..........

Sewing Projects, Past, Present and Future

The Past:  Eldest/Admin, Miss Vivien and I discovered a treasure trove of little dresses on one of our travels last week.  Adorable, HAND MADE dresses for a mere dollar each!  This little beauty kept my mind engaged for quite awhile while I contemplated who, what, where and when of the secrets behind it.  The teeny tiny one that we selected for Baby Girl's Baby Girl, is particularly interesting.  There were two, identical, and both displaying a sweetness of detail.  Soft little prints, careful stitching and delicate lace.  Someone thought much of the unknown twins that were the recipient of these lovely creations. My mind goes to the 50's maybe 60's.  I shared with E/A that Back in the Day, when all little girls wore dresses most of the time, the affirmation to purchase, was Just How Big Was the Hem?  I remember my mother checking out the hem of a dress before we would consider buying it.  It had to have at least a 2 1/2" or 3" hem to make it worth your financial while.  Little girls will shoot up in height before their shoulders, arms and tummies start to fill out.  A ample hem could keep a little dress in circulation for quite a few seasons.  In fact, one of the dresses that we bought for Miss Viv, we did just that!  A cute little gingham number fit well except it was just a bit too short for My Girl's lengthening legs.  Out came the seam ripper!  Out came the threads!  Zoom, zoom on the sewing machine, and Miss Vivien was tooling around in the cutest little vintage dress ever!  Mimi .Melted. Again.Here is a simple little utilitarian dress with lots of detail for how small and basic it is.  I adore the rick rack.  The wee little buttons all down the back. (for show; the real fasteners were little snaps).  And the tiniest of floral material.  Can you imagine a Grammy of today investing the time and energy into such a basic little fashion statement?  Fancy dresses, sure, maybe, but a 'Play Dress'?  I absolutely love that a long time ago, a mama, probably another relative, sat down and put together this little bit of fluff for their sweet little girl.......The Present: While E/A was visiting, The Heat Wave to End All Heat Waves was undoing us. Yes, yes, we were in air conditioning, but the poor a/c had worked very hard all month and being Energy Conservationists (!), we kept it at a restraint, temperature wise.  It was best to keep our minds off the heat and our hands busy.  So while I humored The Most Wonderful Vivien, E/A worked on this project for her little girl.  Sweet little bean bags from the link in a previous post.  Adorable?  Add beans, stitch the opening and Vivie is ready to learn her numbers in a very kinisthetic kinda way.And back to the future:

Baby Girl's Baby Quilt in progress!!  Mimi is using only scraps from her abundant collection to create the bankie for her newest granddaughter!  A lovely legacy of love for each grandchild; memories of Mimi's Prayerful Pregnancy Program.  With each square, I reflect on the new little one's life.  I think of her life, being so involved now, yet, knowing that the shank of her life will be spent without me.  I pray that she will know my love and hopes for her osmosisly through the hand stitching and fabric selection.  I want her to feel warm and protected and comforted.  I want her to take this to college with her.  So I cut carefully, sew watchfully, pay attention to the sturdiness of the fabric and cover the project in prayer.  Can it be four short months away till I get to meet this new life?

Better go sew.......

Simple Sewing Sat...er Sundays: Volume Ten: Tricky Terms

Let's face it.  Sometimes the reason that we get stuck in sewing is the terminology used in patterns.  Then, once we look it up, we ofttimes are more confused than before.  Sometimes you just need a bit more detailed description in perhaps simpler terms.  Today on Simple Sewing Sat...Sundays (ah, the joyful distractions of summer!) we will seek to remedy those pesky vague Sewist Terms that can trick us up....

• Basting Stitch:  No, you don't have to keep moistening your fabric!  But what you do is first set your sewing length to the longest stitch on your machine.  See?  I showed you on mine.  Big stitches are needed to be able to pull the threads so you get a nice gather for a myriad of applications; sleeves, fullness in yokes, etc etc.  Typically, you run two rows of long stitches (top photo) to get a full effect.  Once you have made the stitches, leave the threads a bit long to be able to pull them to get the puffy effect of gathering.  Pull gently; you don't want to break the threads!  Even out the gathers and when you see how much fullness you need for the application, tie off the ends( the two threads at each end) to make it stay at the desired length.  Ease the fullness into the sleeve, yoke etc etc...So now you know when a pattern tells you to make basting stitches, that is what you do!
• Bias:  Again, so many puns could be made....But I will go forth onto business...Cutting on the bias is utilizing the stretchiness of your fabric for different apps, i.e. yokes, skirts with a certain fit, maternity panels..anything that you need a bit of a give to.  In the photo with the sweet little pink and white stripe, you see the straight fabric then the fabric folded on a 45 degree angle.  If you took the long points and pulled in the opposite direction, you'd see that the fabric stretches.  That is the proverbial 'going against the grain'.  While we're on the subject, I might as well address the word 'Selvage'.  The selvage is the edge of your fabric that runs along the length.  Usually, it is finished and sometimes, on good fabric, it will bear the name of the material, it's designer and manufacturer.  Knowing your true selvage will help you in laying out your pattern.  Know that arrow that runs the lengths of your patterns?  That arrow on one end should be the exactly the same at the way end of the other arrow from the arrow to the selvage, in order to be on a straight grain.  So you ask, Deb, aren't you being a bit picky and precise?  And I say, yes. Normally, I would say, oh have at it.  But things of grain can make the difference between a wonky dress,blouse or skirt or slacks and a swanky one.  In order for things to hang well, the grain really has to be respected.  Now back to the bias.  When you cut on the bias, you want your pattern arrows to go 45 degrees from the selvage.  On the diagonal, as it were.  You want the wonky (stretchy) in certain applications.  Bias is the pull of the fabric when you pull it 45 degrees from the selvage.  Bias tape strips are made this way: cutting inches wide strips on the diagonal from the selvage to do clean edge necklines, armholes, bindings. Any circular opening that needs some give.
• And while we're on the subject of armholes and necklines, always remember this:  If a curve goes outward, you cut out little v's randomly, to give some ease.  If a curve goes inwardly, make little clips for the same ease.  Outward: V's; Inward: clips.

Well, that is about all my none technical, somewhat aloof sewing mind can handle for today.  Do you have other vague sewing terms that befuddle you and are afraid to ask others lest they point and giggle at you?  Have no fear in approaching the most lackadaisical sewist there is!  I probably don't even know the answer, but at my age, not much embarrasses me anymore, so I will ask some wizened supreme sewist poobah for you!
Happy sewing!

Yummy Lemonade Time

Let us just pause and drink this in.  Let us just think about 8 degrees.  Let us revel in the wind chill factor that we so rebuffed in the gales of winter. Ah.  Refreshment....Lest we forget....

Now that we are all cool, let us see what we do with lemons: Unrelenting Heat Wave and Temporary Home Displacement.

 Eldest/Admin is thrilled with a bath remodel in her lower level.  As goes all redos, there is pain before progress.  Concrete jackhammered, water turned off and plumbers in and out. Air Conditioning turned off to keep just cleaned ducts sorta clean.  Plaster dust and (gulp) old mold is stirring up things that asthmatics oughta not be breathing...

So they pack up quickly and high tail it to Mimi's House.  Mimi's has it's share of allergens, dust bunnies alone never mind animal hair, but we do have functioning a/c (thank the Lord) and good company.

What ever do we do to have fun at Mimi's?  We eat eggies for breakfast.  We warm Mimi's heart by calling her name when nighty time is over.  We make BLT's with the best homegrown maters ever. (Thank you Lovely Lisa!)

We try on Mimi's baby shoes, the very ones that she walked in 56 years ago...And they fit!  We go to Lost River Deli and Markethttp://lostrivercoop.com and sit in a regular chair like a big girl, eating good and singing along with Mimi, The Rainbow Song while mama and Mimi shop in the wonderful store.

We shop at The Little Closet and find dandy finds.

We take walks at night with Mimi's doggies, when the temperature is not yet napalm but far from temperate .

We curl up in bed with Mimi and Papa while mama showers in peace and quiet and play with Mimi's Bedside accouterments.

Mama works on the cutest little bean bags that are here: http://chezbeeperbebe.blogspot.com/2010/01/tutorial-and-pattern-counting-bean-bags.html while Mimi gets to rock and sing me to sleep.....Bliss....

We laugh and talk and sit and swing and enjoy each other's company immensely....

Sweet Lemonade from The Crazy Lemons of Summer......

Stay Cool!