January Look Back

As the holidays come to an end and we settle into cold January I always think that we are going to stay home and hibernate.  We actually had a really nice January with a little bit of visiting and a little bit of relaxing. ( Unfortunately for me a little bit of the stomach flu too)

We celebrated our grandson turning 5.......

The kids got to go skiing with their cousins........

 we got to visit with dear friends......

and Neil and I joined our church. Looking forward to an equally enjoyable February.  Can't believe it's here already!!

New Year Vintage Postcards

I love vintage postcards and wanted to share some with you that celebrate New Years.

 

This one reads "My dear Eva, My best wishes for your success and happiness for 1912. 

With Love, Mary"

( I love birds on old postcards)

This one is postmarked 1909 and reads " Come out some night as I haven't hardly had time to come and see you lately though I will soon. Wishing you a Happy New Year. Your Friend, Bev" The recipient was Clara.

We complain about how hard it is to find time to see our friends with all we have to do today. Can you imagine how difficult it was for friends to get together 100 years ago? Laundry alone must have taken forever! 

What I love about both of these cards is that one girlfriend was sending it to another to keep in touch.  They are the original facebook! Women need their mothers, sisters, and girlfriends to connect with.  That's how it was 100 years ago and I have no doubt it will be the same in the next 100!  

Chicken Soup

Being that January is National Soup Month, I thought that I would share with you a soup that is popular at our house.  I found it years ago on Allrecipes.  I know many people tweak recipes but I am not that creative in the kitchen.  I always make this recipe the same way the recipe calls for.  We all love it.  It is hearty and comforting.  You can find the recipe here. Enjoy!

Prayer of Susanna Wesley

I thank thee because, when I have been sometimes interrupted in my work 

and my thoughts of Thee have been diverted, 

I have found how pleasing it is to my mind to feel the motions of Thy Spirit

quickening me and exciting me to return. 

Amen

 My husband and I will be officially joining the United Methodist Church next weekend.  In preparing to do so we have been reading about John Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement.  When I was looking through writings/prayers that belonged to my grandmother I found this prayer by Susanna Wesley.  Recognizing the last name I looked her up in Wikipedia.  It turns out that she was John Wesley's mother. The funny thing was, when I looked her up I discovered that she was born on this day 344 years ago! How weird is that! I guess it was meant to be that I found this prayer in my grandmother's belongings and am sharing it today. You can read about her here.

Stone Chip Bracelet

I have made this style bracelet before with pearls and crystals but I decided to use stone chips this time because it is for someone I work with who likes earthy tones. This bracelet is fun to make and works up quickly.

One of the greatest things about this project is that there are not a lot of supplies.

Materials:

6 silver bead tips

#6 silk thread

1 multi strand clasp

stone chips ( I used about 110 chips)

pliers

First, tie a knot onto the end of your silk thread and string your bead tip up close to the knot. The little hook of the bead tip should be facing the end of the thread.  Make one more knot onto the other side of the bead tip to secure it. Next, string enough stone chips onto the thread to make a five inch length. ( I went with five inches because the person I was making it for has very small wrists.  My clasp added on two inches, not including the extender chain. ) Knot your thread at the end of the strand and add your second bead tip. Knot to secure.

Repeat this process two more times, giving you three completed strands.  Hook each strand onto the three strand clasp and then attach to the other coordinating side. Enjoy your new bracelet!

To Whom Our Praise is Due

Praise the Lord for sunshine,
Praise the Lord for rain,
Praise the Lord for pleasure,
Praise the Lord for pain,
Praise the Lord for lessons learned
through every joy and sorrow,
Praise the Lord for days gone by,
And for each tomorrow!
--Alice Joyce Davidson
 

Book Nook

I just finished reading the most WONDERFUL book, Adriana Trigiani's The Shoemaker's Wife.
It is a beautiful love story set in the early 1900's. Enza and Ciro first meet in the Italian Alps.  Their story continues in America as they both struggle to establish themselves in this new country.

Picture Source

 

What I love most about this book is Trigiani's writing.  She has an incredibly beautiful and poetic way of describing things.  Here is an excerpt:

"The only sound was the soft, rhythmic sweep of her footsteps, like hands dusting flour across an old wooden cutting board."

Don't you automatically know that feeling of your hands dusting flour on a cutting board? Her sentences are so descriptive.  They make you FEEL! She does this over and over again.

I have read several of Adriana Trigiani's books which I have truly enjoyed: Brava Valentine, Very Valentine, Big Stone Gap, Lucia Lucia.....to name a few.  I have loved this one the best.