Blue Dream of Sky

I thank you, God, for this most amazing day...for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. ~ e.e. cummings

Enjoy a lovely weekend!

Delights from Quill Cottage

Remember when I was having fun while participating in Miss Sandy's Challenge at Quill Cottage? I won the challenge...not based on the product, no, no, based on a draw. In fact, all the participants won something that day. Miss Sandy is generous to a fault. You should hang out there!

I apologize in advance for the light quality. It was evening by the time I received my package...it was brought to me while I was napping in fact. And this morning has brought gray, rainy skies. You know when I pull out Photoscape's Gradient 6 that I'm trying to make a not-so-good photo better.

The Prize

Beautiful Collage

 Exquisite Details

 Harness Your Dreams

 Write a Book

 More Gifts

Dreamy Ephemera

Darling Tag

Never has a gift more perfectly expressed such lofty thoughts and goals. Our dreams, those things which we think of most often, are God-given. Did you know that? We do not dream without His having placed it in our hearts. So we must pay close attention to our dreams. 

Thank you, Miss Sandy, for your incredible generosity of talent and spirit. I ♥ you!

So, have you guessed that my dream is to write a book? I'm not even concerned about publishing it, I just want to finish it. More on that another day. What dream are you holding dear?

Of Bread and Bread Making Machines

I've come to my blog today looking for information about when I might have purchased my bread machine. Have you heard? It croaked. Made that last loaf of brown bread and then kaput. I found out on Valentine's Day when I was trying to make some more brown bread. Perhaps God has spoken: There'll be no more brown bread for you, Vee. You obviously can't handle it.


I remember that I purchased the bread machine at B*d, B*ath, and B*yond, that I said, "no, thank you" to the extended warranty, that it was about a year ago, and that it is/was an 0st*r. I have made fewer than ten loaves of bread and so we have had some very expensive loaves indeed. And so many of them were duds, too. Wah!

Wouldn't you know that last night while perusing Pinterest...yes, I'm as addicted as anyone else...I found a recipe that I want very much to try. It's one of those mix it up and don't have to knead it ones. Trouble is, I don't have a giant mixer. On the outside chance that you're interested in looking at these wonderful loaves—
English Muffin Bread

Do you believe, like I do, that products have a planned obsolescence?

Edited to Add: Thank you for your suggestions to contact 0st*er. I am going to do it! I'll let you know how it goes.

Edited to Add Again: Thank you so much! They are going to replace it in 6 to 8 days! Yippee!! I do love my commenters.

***

I am still in the magnet business. Have now cut up my brand new Country Living magazine. There really is no higher purpose for it. My favorite magnets are Abraham Lincoln, a little home in the glen, and some script.

Oops, upside down script...

Right side up

Next time I shop for floral glass, I may look for clearer pieces, though the flaws do lend to the charm. I really enjoyed anything "state" related or historical. It was also fun to find enough similar patterns to create a set as I did with these.

Have you figured out where all this is going? ;> Yes, I'd love to create a set of three for you based on what I find at your blog (yes, you must have a blog). Just comment. No following needed. I'll send them anywhere. Shhhh, don't tell anybody. This is an offer just for those who wander in. A winner will be selected Saturday evening. 

A wonderful Thursday to you...

Thank you! Comments are now closed. Winner to be announced Monday.

Magnet Factory

Though I'm not particularly talented in any area, I am very interested in many things. I enjoy crafts, though I never stick with a thing long enough to be become truly proficient. Anyone else struggle with this one?

~Magnets Adorn the Fridge~

I've moved on from crocheting to making magnets. Refrigerator magnets. The kind that annoy so many. I find them handy. Our refrigerator serves as others' chalkboard message boards serve them. It's a great place to display the grands' artwork and to file the bills and to say "pay attention to this."

~The Magnet Factory~

This has really been a lot of fun. It is relaxing to leaf through old magazines and calendars looking for images that will work well. John's daughter shared how to make these with me and the information is all in the factory picture. I'm sure that many of you have already given this a try and that there are tutorials already online.

Hope that you all had a splendid Love Day and that you keep the love going. When visiting my grands last night, I was a bit surprised to learn that they are both in "relationships." The eldest has already set his wedding plans.
* thud *

I also wanted to thank everyone who mentioned a story from your family history. (Comments section~Monday's Post~Scroll back if interested) Some even talked about Spanish Flu history. I knew that a pandemic would have stories all over the place. It was all very interesting!

Happy Valentine's Day

The sentiment on my Valentine's card from Diane makes me chuckle every time I see it. Since it's on the windowsill above the kitchen sink, that's pretty often.

The yellow primrose is a Valentine gift from my Sweetheart. I do love yellow.

May you have a fun and blessed Valentine's Day!

A Lovely Lady

Lovely frost tracings. John thinks this looks something like a swan swimming in ferns. It certainly has been frigid in our corner. How about yours?

***

So I've been cleaning and cleaning and tossing and shredding left and right. These are my mother's and grandmother's papers. I hold onto anything that is a letter with any information that might be of interest one day. If it's all about the weather and local gossip...not so much. If there's a mention of historical events...definitely yes. If there's a mention of family history...yes. There are a lot more yays than nays.

I repacked all the family photo albums dating back to beginning of time. For the first time, I can see how such treasures wind up in flea markets. There's just so much hauling these things along. What does one do with it all? 

And in the middle of that, I brought home another instant ancestor. I brought her home because her photograph was so clearly labeled. Her name is Irene Marion Powers and her photograph was taken in 1901 in Pittsfield, Maine.

sitting on my window ledge

Imagine my surprise to look for her this morning and find her already featured at another blog right *here.* The blogger has done quite a little research and found out some interesting additional information about the lovely lady.

***

Downton Abbey...one cannot complain about that program dragging as the plot boots right along. Last night, the Spanish Flu was a part of the story line.

Back when I was teaching, I sometimes asked my adult students to write an essay on family legends and lore. If students couldn't think of anything to write, I would offer suggestions, one of which was to discuss how the flu pandemic of 1918 affected their families. I suggested it because my family is filled with stories about that time.

My great-grandmother went to bed on an autumn day and didn't get out of it again for six weeks. My grandmother, nine years old at the time, was coming down with the flu when her father fixed her a hot toddy and sent her to bed on the suggestion of the family doctor. Her father found her on the stair landing curled into a ball when he went up to bed. My grandmother recovered quickly unlike her poor mother. And the stories come from all sides of the family. Does your family have such stories?

I see that next week is the Christmas Show on DA. Does that mean that it's the final one of Season 2?