Getting my Shine on!

I was able to find another faux wreath & along with my leftover ornaments another wreath was born.  Anyone who knows me, knows that "shiny" is not really my thing.  I'm a more "natural" look type of girl, but I have to say making this wreath let me get my "shine" on!!  I'm much happier with this one than my first wreath.  Happy to say it is now hanging in our spot at Hart City in Elkhart, Indiana.  I am hoping it will sell as there were so many offerings of wreaths from the other vendors.  It was like a Christmas wonderland at the mall.   Green faux trees, twig trees, white faux trees.  Whatever your pleasure, it was available.  Lovely to look at, but I'll be heading out this weekend to forage for whatever fresh pines I can find.  Time to make a statement on my rickety front porch. 

All that glitters is not gold

Remember a few posts back where I showed a pictured of the "goodies" we picked up the day of the Washington Street sales?  In the picture, were a couple of boxes of red & gold ornaments that I planned to use for a wreath along with a faux green wreath that I picked up at Goodwill for a dollar.   Well, finished the wreath & thankfully on that same day I was able to buy one big box of red glass ornaments of different sizes for a couple of dollars as it turned out I needed all of them for the wreath.  It was a big wreath & my picture is not the best, but it does show how it turned out.  It looked a whole lot better in person & has already gone off to a new home.  I'm now working on a second one, much smaller with the gold ornaments & some red ones.  I have to say, other than the tons of hot glue, this is one easy & inexpensive project for something that normally sells for big dollars in the catalogs.  There is still time to make one.  Goodwill usually has boxes of ornaments for a good price as well as the wreaths.  Most of the Dollar stores have a good supply of inexpensive ornaments, so grab your glue gun, lots of glue sticks & get to gluing.  I remove the metal cap, but not necessary.  Just start placing the bulbs in a pleasing pattern & glue.  I attached a ribbon bow, but again looks great without.  For the red wreath, I didn't have enough gold ornaments to use, but any combination works well.  Enjoy!

It' "Gobble, Gobble, Gobble" Time

Seems like October drags along & rightly so as I always want to hold onto the last glimmer of the fall season.  Watching the leaves turn from the lush greens into the vibrant golds, reds & russet browns always makes me melancholy.  As gorgeous as the days are with clear blue skies, crisp fall mornings, I know that soon the trees will be bare & the green grass covered by fluffy white snow.  I admit it, I don't like winter, never have for as long as I have been around.  It is just something we Michiganders deal with.  But, I still don't like it.  I like to look at the first snowfall, but then would be just as happy for it to leave.  Now, what does any of this have to do with "turkey talk?"  Just that when October leaves, it seems the days fly by quicker than politician's blink and before we know it Thanksgiving is upon us. 

I have had the luxury over the last 30 years to not have to cook Thanksgiving dinner.  I was so fortunate to live next door to my in-law's, Mike & Jeri Bobik and she loved to cook and was an excellent cook.  She cooked the turkey, the mashed potatoes, yams, jello, the salads.  My only contribution was a bowl of cranberries, because I love cranberries.  Love the color, love the taste & could eat them everyday.  After the passing of both my in-laws, my sweet younger sister extended the invitation to spend the day with them.  The first year, I brought probably a corn casserole & since her husband deep fries their turkey, I ended up roasting a small bird so that we could all enjoy the "traditional" bird that is expected.  I have no problem roasting a bird, but had never really tackled bread dressing or a pumpkin pie!  I'm not a pie maker, never have & probably never will be, but, my mother-in-law was a fabulous cook & her bread dressing was delish as were her pumpkin pies.  My sister-in-law, Penny Klett (Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen.blog spot.com) is also a fabulous cook & on a particular year added "Mom's bread dressing & Pumpkin pie" to her blog spot.  Eureka, I could finally make the mouth-watering bread dressing & hopefully the desired pumpkin pies.  I printed the recipes, gathered my ingredients & proceeded to put together the bread dressing.  I assured my sister not to worry as I had this part of the menu covered.  So I'm ready with recipe in hand, adding the bread, the celery, onions and butter......so much butter it seemed for one loaf of bread, but pushed on placing the mixture into my trusty 9" x 13" baking dish.  Something just didn't look right & definitely did not look like the much remembered dressing my mother-in-law served.   I re-read the recipe & yes, I had all the correct ingredients, but again, something just didn't look right, so I called my sister-in-law to ask her what I was doing wrong.  Well, come to find out there was slight mis-print in the recipe & either I had to much butter or not enough bread, can't remember exactly which, but I baked the dressing & took it as my offering & much to my surprise, everyone loved it & I left my sister's house at the end of the day with an empty dish.  The pumpkin pie.....need to leave that for another day as that was by my own admission a huge mistake.  How was I to know that the recipe was for two pies and not one.  I'm not a pie baker & realized that day exactly why I am not. 

The moral of this lengthy story is that for many years, we as a small family,  were very fortunate & thankful to have had someone who enjoyed cooking a "Thanksgiving dinner", but even more thankful for the memories of that round oval table in the dining room, covered with so many delectable dishes, witty conversation and more importantly time spent with two of the most wonderful people to grace a table, my in-law's, Mike & Jeri Bobik.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone near & far. 

Happy Halloween.  Normally this is a fun holiday for me, but not so much the last couple of years.  Prior to my mother passing away on October 15,2005, Halloween was a holiday that was shared by her, my aunt, sister & grand kids coming to my house for Sloppy Joes and assorted treats.  I was the stopping off place for the country grand kids to gather for pictures & then a quick rush out the door with a parent in hand to scurry up and down the streets surrounding our house.  When finished with their appointed rounds back they would come & try to eat something, but far too excited to see what "goody loot" they were given.  The day my mother passed away, my world was completely shattered.  It was very unexpected & the thought I not having my mother to call or see anymore was very hard for me & my two sisters to handle.  So that year, I just could not bring myself to pass out treats as all I wanted was for my mother & aunt to be there.  Each year becomes easier, but still no great joy as it is a reminder that neither my aunt or mother are with us anymore.  This year was even harder as my two grandsons who normally would be here, had moved to Florida in August, so just didn't see the sense, not to mention it was a miserable cold, wet and rainy day & night.  So maybe next year I'll be in better spirits & who knows maybe I'll have a couple of small tricksters coming in my back door.

Bittersweet October

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter." ~Carol Bishop Hipps

I am a lover of the written word.  I love reading what other people write & I enjoy writing.  I do most of it in my head & have ideas for books that I would love to write, but alas I never seem to get it done. 

Bittersweet October.  How do I begin?  My dear sweet late mother-in-law, Jeri Bobik, planted a bittersweet bush many, many years ago.  It grows directly on both property lines belonging to them & to us.  It started out small & very rarely gave us the delightful orange & yellow berries, or if it did, I never saw them.  Now remember, my mother-in-law was a person with a very sweet disposition & of all the people in her life, she loved her grandchildren with more than an unconditional love.  Enter my son & step-son when they were around 10 years old & decided that the bittersweet could use some grooming.  With saw in hand, they cut away at that bittersweet & my sweet mother-in-law totally lost it.  She cried over the loss of what was once a beautiful lush bush & the promises of bountiful fruit.  Of course, we all felt bad, the boys even more so.  So, from then on the bittersweet was off limits.  Looking back, I remember thinking how awful we felt for her & where would we be able to find a replacement & with no such luck, the long Michigan winter set in.  When spring finally arrived the following year, the bittersweet had survived & in fact flourished.  And since then the bittersweet was off limits & no one touched it for years on end. 

The problem with some strains of bittersweet is that it is very invasive & will grow rapidly upwards, downwards & intertwining into anything close by, including trees, bushes & buildings.  The bittersweet did exactly that & after climbing up into the box elder tree, it needed to be pruned.  Each year, I wait for those glorious berries to form & the one year that it came into its own, my husband cut all of them, leaving me with no bittersweet.  I'm not sure if it has something to do with the timing of when he cuts it back, but again no bittersweet this year.  That bush.....causes more discussion & emotion than a recent football game or car race.  Cut it down, leave it, prune it & all the while in the back of my mind I remember my mother-in-law and how much it meant to her.  So, it is a bittersweet bush with bittersweet memories & for now will stay with the hope that one day it will produce some of those beloved berries that she so cherished.   

Fruitful Day & Fruitful Finds

What a beautiful day.  It was a bit chilly when I woke up, but soon the day turned to nothing but sunshine & warmer weather. 

My daughter, Morgan & I try every year to drive over to South Bend, Indiana for the Washington Street Sales.  We live about 22 miles from South Bend & Notre Dame - the fighting Irish.  Washington Street is located in the historic district of South Bend & the street & surrounding ones are filled with old Victorian houses along with the Studebaker Mansion & the Oliver Mansion.  Studebaker made cars & the Oliver's created the Oliver Plow.  The Studebaker Mansion is now a restaurant, while the Oliver Mansion or Copshaholm is a house museum.  The Oliver family left the stone mansion with contents intact to the Historical Society & is one of my favorite places to visit.  All of the contents belonged to the Oliver family, so it is like a step back in time.  Back to the yard sales, which are usually in front of the houses.  Spaces can also be rented, so you never know what will be found.  The museum next to the Oliver House is usually set up selling items that have been donated & can not be used in exhibits.  Everything from glassware, holiday to historical items can be found.  Driving down Washington Street we were disappointed that there was very people set up, but did find a couple of sales & found out the sale was actually last week, but ended early due to rain.  No matter, we found a few things & saw some old friends.

We left Washington Street & headed over to the Century Center where the Junior League was having their annual thrift sale.  I've never been to this event, so it was something new to try & the huge room was transformed into a mini shopping haven. Tables were well marked indicating what items were for sale.  I tried to hit every table, but things were picked over, but did manage to find some red & gold ornaments to match the ones I found on Washington Street.  A couple of Christmas items, a pillow & a small clock.  Most of the items were marked $1.00!  Then we headed off for a quick breakfast, and on our way home stopped at a Goodwill.  It was 50% off day & let me tell you, I now know why I avoid going.  So many people in such small aisles do not make for happy shopping, but I found a Christmas wreath with an adorable snowman.  A Christmas pillow & runner filled out the cart & then it was home via country roads. The leaves have started to turn & it is going to be a good year for color.  Vibrant reds, yellows of various shades, dark purples & browns  make it hard to keep our eyes on the road. So much fall color to enjoy.  It is was a very good day & much needed. 

Maybe you have all seen those wreaths in Pottery Barn.  You know the ones with all the colorful glass balls or ornaments.  Well, my purchase of an extra wreath, the two boxes of balls along with a big box from one of the sales will be turned into one of those very expensive wreaths.  I made one last year & it turned out great.  A glue gun (being very careful as they get very hot), positioning  the balls, then glue. Very easy to have something that looks expensive but very thrifty. Wreath $1.00, glass ornaments $1.00 each box, big box of red ornaments $3.00.  $6.00 for something that will last for several years and much less expensive than the one pictured in the catalog.

The big round blue ball that you see in the picture is actually an old bowling ball that someone cut off the bottom.  These make great garden ornaments & I was happy to have gotten two this morning.  So, if you are out & about & find an old bowling ball, especially one with some good color, grab it & find a place in your garden. I think you will enjoy it. 

 I forgot to mention the wonderful old soap dish with lid.  Not sure what I'm going to do with it & may just decide to keep it. Three pieces that look like transferware in a soft turquoise green. 

I've had a busy day and now it is time for me to pick up some linen, grab my favorite needle & start cross-stitching.  Hope you all had a fruitful day, as I know we did.

Favorite Pumpkin Men

 

I know, this is slightly ridiculous, but I just love this picture.  Love a man in a barn jacket, denim pants & holding a pumpkin.  Can it get any better?  Brings a smile to my face each time I look at it.