Letters to Emily

The premise is reminiscent of Charlie Shedd's book Letters to Karen, except that the letters are to a young mother about raising children. There are also many encouragements concerning marriage and family. What am I talking about? A new-to-me blog that I stumbled upon (via a comment left yesterday) and a most delightful find it was.

No pictures save those created with words alone, but the entries are concise and poignant with wonderful touches of humor. Look for My Letters to Emily on my blogroll from now on and do visit to see what I'm raving about. You'll find that each entry is a treasure; I'm certain that young mothers and even grandmothers would enjoy reading them.

One that had little to do with child-rearing turns out to be *my favorite.* You'll see why right away.

This is a bit of an unusual twist for a Sunday entry here at Haven, but so delighted was I to see this unique, encouraging blog that I could not help myself.



Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ~Matthew 5:15

Photo Source

Leftovers?

We hear the weather reports concerning cold and snow from all over. In my corner, we're not experiencing anything beyond the normal, but for all of you who find yourselves in such harsh weather, I offer this. ;D

We have a few candy canes leftover...precious few. Over the holidays, I learned a new way to use them from somewhere. Perhaps this recipe from The Old Painted Cottage will be helpful, but do be warned as it's highly addictive. Here, I'm just using hot cocoa mix and a whipped cream topping with a bit of crushed candy cane mixed in. It's perfect because it's not too sweet, yet there is that subtle peppermint flavor.

How to crush those candy canes without a big mess? I tried a number of methods and wound up using two plastic lids with a nice edge to capture the bits and pieces. Nothing worse than hurtling bits of candy cane all over the place.

Here's what you need...candy canes, lids, and a hammer
On the altar so to speak
Use a dishtowel, if you'd like to protect the lids...I didn't bother and they seem none the worse for wear.


The result
Just three left

And, should you tire of hot drinks, we enjoyed the most delicious peppermint milkshakes last night using this formula:

* 1 cup milk
* as much French vanilla ice cream as you wish (I'm so flexible.)
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 1 crushed candy cane

Wonder what it would be like with chocolate milk and chocolate ice cream...

Stay warm out there!

Thoughts on Doodles

Do you like to draw? Doodle? I love to doodle. I create all sorts of flowers and curlicues. Doodles may say things about us. Last night found me wondering what a doodle drawing done of me says.

It was with some interest that I posed for a drawing my grandmother was working on last evening. Never have seen her pick up a pencil and start drawing that way. It's been a challenge for her to write much of anything lately, though she does stay on top of her crossword puzzles always working in ink and using all caps.

Note the turned-out foot and the way she placed my hand. Find myself wondering if it speaks of my impatience and frustration from time to time. She has made me look like something of a whacked bird, don't ya think? Love the bob that she gave my hair, though.

Looking forward to Thursday morning when we'll take down the tree. It's the morning after Epiphany, which we will celebrate with a Christmas-style dinner and some reading and reflection. We may use the final ceremony of Advent as our take-off place. It was gleaned from Quill Cottage with year before last's Christmas post Serendipity Sunday Week Four. And there may be a final gift of Christmas for John and Nan...we'll see. And it's fun to think that, even though I'm taking the tree down, it'll be right back up before the year ends.

Happy redecorating to us all!

Walking Home Through a Storm

I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm. ~Psalm 55:8

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. ~Psalm 32:7

photo used by permission

Happy New Year

Meet Frosty the Cheeseball.



...with a lumpy frame and catnip arms and two eyes made out of peppercorns. Happy New Year!!!~in an email from my creative nieces.

And just to keep it real, they also sent me the death of Frosty the Cheeseball.



In a completely off-the-topic segue, do you think we can begin to say "twenty-ten" or must we continue with the "two thousand ten bit"? What do you think?

Okay then, I'm off to find a cheeseball dead or alive. Happy New Year, Dear Ones!

Edited to Add: Thought I'd drop in the latest creation by these gals...a tribute to Raymond Briggs of The Snowman fame. It was a two-day project working with precious little but a shovel and a cheese grater. They amaze me!

Birds, Star, and a Calendar

Don't you love a new calendar? I do. In fact, I'm so easily excited by calendars that I get a thrill out of flipping from one month to the next. Probably wouldn't if I were using the True Value calendar, but then I am using a new Lang received for Christmas. (My new one is from the paintings of Laura Berry.) Calendars make such nice gifts...more about that in a few.

Sooo, I've been making things and all because my family loved the little bird that I spoke of *here.* You'll find all the information you need for snagging the template from Miss Sandy on that post.



And I've been making stars, which is a Blogland story that connects to a real life one. My mom purchased a pocket calendar for my sister at our local gift shop and discovered a bit late that it was for 2009. That'll never do so she sent me back to the shop where it was cheerfully replaced for a 2010 one. It's a darling calendar from the paintings of Diane Knott. How thrilled I was to find her blog named Diane Knott's Musings while blog-hopping one evening just two days later.



That evening, her post was Starry, Starry Night and I was enchanted. My little copycat star is made from scrapbook papers that I really have never liked well enough to use; nevertheless, how well they worked for this star. And how darling would it be made from favorite Christmas cards or favorite wrapping paper as I did for some of the birds in my collage? It's good to think about these things as you pack away your Christmas stuff, if you haven't already. (Some fine day, I hope to be able to use glitter as beautifully as Diane does.) This is the *star template* I used. Anyway, that's my little find to share with you today.

A warm and loving thank you to each of my readers whether you comment or prefer to remain quiet. I appreciate all of you. May you enjoy God's richest blessings in the year to come!

I've Been Known To...

drown my sorrows. But then you know that after the fudge confession of Monday.

Today, I have a peanut brittle confession.



A microwave peanut brittle confession.

(Oh look! A glimpse of my "recession hair" on the microwave door. Don't strain your eyes — it's murky on purpose.)

Oh dear!

Burned!

It could've been so nice...you know, if it weren't all burned and stuff.

~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~

Funny little story about my grandson who believes that I live in a magical place all because of my neighbor's shed. You may remember that, like many little boys of three, he's enchanted by all things Thomas the Train.



Grandson: Dad, look! It's Toby!

Son: No, that's Nonni's neighbor's shed.

Grandson: No, Dad, it's Toby!

Son: Well now, that's kind of fun to think about, but it's not really Toby; it's just a shed.

Grandson: But, Dad, he's got wheeeeeeels.

And so the shed does (have wheels) and, after running into Toby today, I'm not so certain that he doesn't live in my neighbor's backyard.

Source

And I do live in a magical place...

Where Have all My Favorite Blogs Gone?

Anyone having trouble with losing your favorite blog listings? I am and I am terribly upset about it! If you've been on my blogroll and wish to remain there, please notify me. My memory isn't what it used to be!

Edited to Add:

Oh blast it! Honestly, on days like this, one should return to bed and remain there until the world rights itself. I had such a lovely old-fashioned blog list going and now even IT is gone. I don't know what Blogger is up to, but I can't play if it won't let me. I'm going to go have some coffee and at least three pieces of fudge.

The Week Between Christmas and the New Year

Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. ~Psalm 27:14

Elenka told me in Comments on my last post that she enjoys a relaxing week of waiting between Christmas and the New Year. I've never thought of it that way before, but it is true that the rush of Christmas ends abruptly and we are left with empty boxes, remnants of wrapping paper, and all that leftover food...

I think I'll take a cue from Elenka and enjoy a quiet week. There are many concerns here and I find myself craving time alone with my thoughts. So, if I disappear, don't be too alarmed, I'm only taking some quiet time and if, in the bargain, I make the one who deeply resents my computer time happy, all the better.

Until next time...

Put Them in Columns and Leave Them Right There...

The garment of life, be it tattered and torn,
the cloak of the soldier is weathered and worn.
But what child is this that was poverty-born? The peace of Christmas Day.

The hope that has slumbered for two thousand years,
the promise that silenced a thousand fears.
A faith that can hobble an ocean of tears. The peace of Christmas Day.

Add all the grief that people may bear, total the strife, the troubles and care.
Put them in columns and leave them right there. The peace of Christmas Day.

The branch that bears the bright holly, the dove that rests in yonder tree.
The light that shines for all to see, the peace of Christmas Day.
The branch that bears the bright holly, the dove that rests in yonder tree.
The light that shines for all to see, the peace of Christmas Day.

~The Peace Carol by Bob Beers

You may hear John Denver and the Muppets singing this often overlooked carol on my playlist (all the way at the bottom and *right here*). I think you'll enjoy it for the Muppets are in fine voice. ;D



That Miss Sandy @ Quill Cottage went and did it. She created such a fun craft that I had to join her in her last-minute madness. Check out what Lorrie did with this project, too...soooo adorable!

May you all have time to sit and relax this evening. We are planning a quiet time at the Haven where we'll sip warm cider and read the Christmas story and consider the wonder that Jesus was willing to come to this little planet and to each of us.

Blessings to each of you this Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day...

Busted

Good thing that I learned some years ago that Christmas is what we make it when we can. Personally, I like lots of Christmases...definitely more than one. (Though I do confess that I fall prey to wishing that Christmas were over...ugh...I hate that I sometimes wish that.) The planned get-together was accomplished and whatever happens for Christmas Day will be more of a spontaneous gathering with whoever is available.

And, if we can manage to stay out of the Emergency Room, we'll be doing famously. We spent the day there yesterday with my grandmother. The good news is that she is perfectly well; the bad news is that apparently she is in need of a little extra attention. *sigh*

I've been doing a lot of catching up and realize with horror, thanks to a thought-provoking post Manuela at The Pleasures of Homemaking did called Blog Etiquette, that I am guilty of not giving credit where credit is due... (No, no, Manuela did not single me out. I'm just the type who could never pass a lie detector test. I always feel guilty. It's a condition, an affliction, a syndrome, a problem.)

Anyway, thanks to everyone who has commented on the Christmas header. Now I need to say that Aunt Ruthie at Sugar Pie Farmhouse gave me the idea for the JOY chalkboard on her Be Merry and Bright post. I usually have a simple "Abide" printed on my wee chalkboard, but when I saw her amazing kitchen with a giant chalkboard made out an old headboard (I think) saying "JOY," I copied it almost to the "T." Guilty. I am.

The only thing that I didn't do was use that much-coveted chalk ink product Aunt Ruthie raves about. Instead, I used an old trick learned in the classroom long ago. I simply wet the chalkboard (I'm not fond of the messy chalkboard look), clean it well, wet it again and write immediately on it with regular chalk. It's the poor gal's chalk ink. When the chalk dries, it remains quite undisturbed until it is washed off again.









May all your preparations be going splendidly...I am on my way to find out for myself! Blessings...

Christmas Cookies

Most of us celebrate Christmas on December 25. Not my family. Not this year. Today, the 21st, is the day. Things are so very different this year.



I made these cookies yesterday using Suzanne's recipe. My problem was that I had no snowflake cookie cutter and I couldn't find one while out shopping Saturday. So I thought to myself how tough could it be to create my own snowflake patterns? Tough. What a fright show and I am only showing you the best ones. Ha! Yes, I even had help.



Okay, must be something that I have to bake, clean or wrap. Catch you later...

"Row to the Ship" and Other Pieces of Advice

One of the things I dearly love about reading blogs is when a blogger shares some secret of keeping on keeping on.

Brenda at Coffee Tea Books and Me often does and, since she and I are in similar circumstances, I pay special attention. See *When I Stop Asking Why* and *When I Don't Desire Christmas.* If you read either of these, you're in for a blessing.

Recently, I was babysitting for my grandsons. My son left without telling the boys that he was leaving.

You.just.know.how.well.that.went. The youngest set up such a wail as he is wont to do that I had a headache in no time. Then he yelled something quite extraordinary, "Row to the ship!" Turns out that it's a line from Peter Pan that he likes and uses often. I don't know the context of the phrase in the movie, but for me it became crystal clear — in times of trouble, don't try to go it alone: Row to the ship or in the words of scripture, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28



Esther's Insights remains a little gem on my sidebar. Gwen created a blog to share her mother's secrets of keeping on keeping on and then moved on to bigger things leaving Esther's Insights intact. If you have an opportunity this week, read the poem Daily With You for it helps to put all things back into perspective once again.

Have a blessed week! (I'm still visiting my blogroll folks and having a blast.)

Hi!

So much to tell and so much water under the bridge, over the dam, wherever-the-heck- it-went, but I did want to stop in to say thank you so very much for your sweet emails and your lovely comments. I do hope to come back and play, but it must wait for better timing.

The good news is that my children gave me a lovely early Christmas gift — a computer! In a true O'Henry style twist, the Internet connection was gone. It's back for now so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Hope that you are all enjoying the merriest of times. I can not wait to visit you all! Soon. Very.

Confidence

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. ~I John 5:14 and 15

Synonyms for confidence from Merriam Webster online Assurance, self-possesion, aplomb all mean a state of mind or a manner marked by easy coolness and freedom from uncertainty, diffidence or embarrassment.

Confidence is translated from the Greek word parrehsia (par-rhay-seé-ah), which means all out-spokenness i.e. frankness, bluntness, bold—by implication assurance. Confidence × freely × openly × plainly.

That's some kind of confidence now isn't it?! God is so good to us. I hope that you avail yourselves of His presence in your life. It's as easy as asking Him in.

(No, I'm not really here. Just using post options and postdating. Blessings to you...)

Awakenings

Letting go of Blogdom reminds me of the movie Awakenings starring Robin Williams who plays the part of a neurologist giving his catatonic patients some medication that brings them back to life. Sadly, the results do not last. That's just how it is with me right now. I've been here having great fun visiting and writing as much as I could, but now it's time to slip back. Hope to catch you all again one day soon! Until then, keep your grin on.

Birthday Plans for a 100 Year Old

front side of invitation

Someone at our house will be 100 years old in a week's time, which is all very exciting. Nan has already received a congratulatory cupcake from a local eatery. I couldn't take my eyes from her beaming face and her beautiful smile as the waitresses gathered around to sing "Happy Birthday."
back side of invitation

Party Plans are sketchy and vague just now with all that's gone on in recent weeks. They've shifted like the sands and may of necessity shift again. My mother worked on ideas and preparations as she was able even from her hospital bed. My sister and I told each other that it was good for her to have other things to think about.

So the invitations are here and two locations are a go depending upon the circumstances of another week. We must soon be filling them in and sending them off. Great-grands have worked on a Power Point presentation featuring photos of Nan's enjoying her amazing life with appropriate musical selections. (This one actually gives me a bit of concern.)

Anyone have a suggestion for us? With our brains practically scrambled, we're feeling the need for fresh thoughts.

Edited to Add:

The rest of the story...

So many have been curious that I thought I would oblige and that way keep a better record for myself.

Nan's 100th birthday party was held at my mother's church on November 1. It was an open house from 1 to 3 with about sixty people in attendance, not bad for a gal who says all her friends are gone. Friends from her hometown traveled for over six hours that day to be with her, which made Nan very pleased. Actually, she kept saying how awful that they had traveled all that way just to see her. I sometimes have to gently chide her and try to help her see the brighter, glass half-full-side of things.

We had lots of yummy buffet food, but the lobster salad rolls were a special treat for a lady who loves seafood. We were blessed to have a professional photographer take family photos, which was a laugh since the baby of the family kept alternately rolling about all the while saying the required "cheese" or he would laugh and say, "I already said, 'cheese'"! This would make the rest of us laugh. Anyway, thought you could use a reason why I'm not posting any of those photos here.

I am posting a mosaic that makes me misty-eyed. One October morning, Nan was surprised with a visit from the "little boy" next door. The one who had grown up wishing to marry his babysitter (my mother) and who has lived all of his adult life in Colorado. He had come home for a visit and looked both my mother and grandmother up. Don't tell me that there are not master plans for this was just after my grandmother's birthday and my mother was still very, very ill. He was able to encourage my mother on a number of levels because his own wife had been through some surprisingly similar things as my mom. You can tell that this gentleman is much loved in our family.

A Rant on a Certain Bank

Sometimes things in our lives all roil up at once or so it seems. There are so many pans on the fire here at Haven that I despair that we'll all go up in flames.

Take, for instance, the latest. My mother wrote a check to John and me and his bank will NOT honor it. What?! All he wants to do is deposit the danged check. Such a lack of regard for their customers, but then this bank is listed as the number one predatory lending institution in the country. So, now I must round someone up to watch my grandmother while I race back into the city to get this thing taken care of. Frustrating. Oh and this bank? Yup. They hold Haven's mortgage.

The good news is that my capacity to put up with baloney has reached an all-time low and I have been doing my research and plan to complain. Have you had any trouble with a bank lately for any kind of unethical behavior? You can find help right *here.*

October in the Rain

The leaves of brown came tumbling down remember?
In *October, in the rain...

*Okay, it's supposed to be September. Please forgive the edit.

My home is in such a state of untidiness, but I must say that having a cozy home to return to after each hospital visit made me appreciate all over again the need for beauty and restful vignettes in my home. While I've not had the time to do the decorating that I usually do, I did race out to the yard a few days ago to gather some of the nicest leaves, place them individually in a paper towel, and press them with heavy books. Today they "float" in the apothecary jar and are so restful to the eye. And instead of using a platter as I usually do, I've been using this book entitled "How to Find Flower Fairies" opened to an autumnal page. That special little fairy featured on the right is John's newest great-grand. Isn't she adorable?



Just before my mother went to the hospital, she gave me these mums. I placed them in her bicycle basket on my chippy, white fence. They've brought me a lot of comfort. (Plates on the Fence courtesy of Manuela's wonderful idea.)

For more information on my mother, please see the side button entitled "Behind the Scenes." Prepare to be amazed!

I'm on my way to a blog near you just as soon as Nan has her breakfast. I can scarcely wait.

Let's Chat

Source: All Posters dot com

Well I thought I might come in and chat for a while. Must have said too much and the blogging gods thought fit to send my post to the trash as it is gone. *Poof*

Oh well, I have no energy to even be terribly angry...a bit disappointed, but that's all the energy I am willing to expend on this. Too much water over the dam anyway since last I posted and too much to say and so I will let it go.

Hope to have the chance to visit with many of you tomorrow and the next days as I am borrowing a lap top for a little while.

God bless...