Apple Pies

This week I came home from errands to find a box of apples on the back porch. A note in the box revealed that it was from Grandpa. It said: "Drops Good for Pies". Hmmm, do you think that's a hint?

Thanks, Grandpa. An apple pie is on it's way soon!

Preserving Summer for Joy

In addition to creating herbal vinegars for winter use, I've also been looking around my flower beds for the last remnants of summer blossoms and picking them to dry. Pink Simplicity Hedge roses, yarrow, status, and lavender all blend together with herbs like oregano and rosemary to make a fragrant bowl of fragrant potpourri. I think I enjoy the color of the dried flowers as much as I like the fragrance. Drying vibrant flowers is a nice way of helping summer last through the winter months. When the fragrance of the potpourri starts to fade, I just toss the flowers and give them a little squeeze to release more of the fragrance. And if after awhile that doesn't work, they make a great 'carrier' for fragrant room spray or essential oils, but that won't be necessary until maybe February or March. By then, the new blossoms will be starting to show their pretty faces.

Crisp and Colorful Autumn Daze

Dearest 'Old' Friend

When I was in first grade I had a 'best friend' by the same name as my sister, Judy. Our school had tables that seated two students and they were lined up in rows in a very traditional classroom. The teacher assigned Judy as my seatmate, and we became fast friends. We were seatmates for the entire school year, except for the last week of school when everyone got to sit wherever they wanted. To this day I think be both regret that we took the option of having a different seatmate, as how cool it would be to be able to say we sat together ALL school year. I have such warm memories of my friendship with Judy. When we were very young she had such lovely dolls and doll furniture. I remember playing with her life-size doll and wishing I had one too! We would ride bikes, participate in school events, and play together. As we grew older, it fast became apparent that Judy was truly gifted and talented. Everything she touched turned to gold! An extremely gifted seamstress, crafter, and painter --- it seemed like she was gifted with abilities without even having to learn them. Creativity oozed from her! She was fun and always had a quick laugh and cheerful smile. We continued through school together, taking classes together, being in band and choir, enjoying school events. Eventually we ended up graduating high school in the same class and even attending college together. I remember taking clothing construction and tailoring classes with her. And yes, by then her talents and abilities had multiplied! Her projects were superb!

Life comes full circle. Judy moved to a distant state and had a beautiful family. Her darling daughter, Alana, is now attending college in the same community we did, so Judy came up to visit. Today is her daughter's birthday and I was blessed to be able to celebrate with them for lunch today. Observing them together took me far back in time. Alana reminds me so much of the Judy I knew during our growing up days.

God's blessing of friendship is a gift to cherish. Thank you for a lovely time today, Judy!

Happy birthday, Alana!!! May the next twenty, and the twenties thereafter, be as precious as the one you just passed through.

Herbal Vinegars

The autumn weather is becoming less 'crisp' as coolness sets in. The weatherman is calling for rain this week-end. The last 'bits' of garden are being harvested. The tomatoes were all picked and placed in a cardboard box to finish ripening a week or so ago. The colored leaves are falling from the trees and scattering the lawn. Quite soon the 'bleakness' of winter will set in. How I will miss the green of herbs, flowers, and trees! In an effort to preserve summer herbs, I tried my hand at making herbal vinegars this season. Thyme, terragon, and rosemary vinegars are made by immersing them in apple cider vinegar and allowing them to sit for at least six weeks. White vinegar can be used as well, but since I believe that apple cider vinegar is healthier, that's what I've used. I haven't tried them yet --- but they are supposed to be delicious for homemade salad dressings. I'll let you know. The instructions say that after six weeks of infusing the herbs in the vinegar that the jar contents can be strained and the greenery thrown away. But, I think they are quite pretty this way too. Don't you?

Little Red Shoes

 

Yesterday I received a letter from my favorite cousin's daughter, a lovely woman who was once the two-year-old flower girl in our wedding. She was announcing the birth of her baby daughter, Samantha Paige. What a cutie! The little one looks just like her mommy did when she was a baby! How exciting to have a new little girl in the family. Of course my mind set to work, thinking about an appropriate and special baby gift. Something handmade by me was the first criteria --- and for that I'm sending something embroidered in an appropriate theme for a new baby girl. Something girly to wear seemed in order as well, so I searched for just the right little outfit --- a sweet little green dress dotted with red roses, covered buttons, and tiny fabric ruffles. A hat to match and cute little bloomers came with the dress. The outfit was completed by the cutest pair of vintage red shoes that I found at my favorite shop on Elm Street. I was delighted to have an opportunity to buy them! I've been admiring them for awhile.

This got me thinking about red shoes. I love red shoes! I think every woman should have at least one pair! There is something beautiful and appealing about red shoes; shoes that make you feel beautiful and accessorized to perfection. Although I don't wear my red shoes often, I always make sure I have at least one pair in my closet. They seem to perk up an outfit that might be just a little too conservative otherwise. They go well with black or navy, and look great with both a suit and dress or jeans and jacket. I seem to have more than my 'one' necessary pair right now. Such fun!

I thought it would be interesting to do a little research about 'red shoes'. What is their meaning? What to they exemplify? Generally we think if Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when we think of red shoes. Her shoes represented magical powers and the value of there being 'no place like home'. But 'red shoes' can also represent dancing and a little girl named Karen in the tale by Hans Christian Anderson (1845). A wickedly scary fairytale, the happy ending is supposed to justify the middle horrors of the tale. Other fairy tales also incorporate 'red shoes' into their tales and you can read about them here. In the process of my research I came across a beautiful blog named Red Shoes. It's interesting --- showing the work of an artist who crafts such quirky things. If you look at her blog, be sure to note the children's flashcards used as wall art in the master bedroom. Hers is Q for queen and his an F for father. So creative! Lastly, we must not forget the most fashionable of the candidates running for the vice-presidential office this year. No matter what your political persuasion, you can't deny that Sarah Palin's shoes are a statement, to be sure. I understand that they are her signature --- red shoes!

Do you have a pair of red shoes? Do you wear them often? What do you wear them with? Why do you like them? Do you have any interesting experiences to share about your red shoes? I'd love to hear about them! Comments welcome!

[I am really enjoying the comments to this post. Thank you for your fun reactions and stories! I'm wearing a pair of red shoes today. What about you?]