Old Fashioned Star

There was a time in my life when I wore Gunne Sax prairie revival dresses. I once made - and wore - a crocheted granny square vest in bright orange and avocado. At one time my favorite pair of pants were purple hip-hugger bell bottoms with a zipper running the entire length of each leg. I used to think my platform shoes made me look taller, but the truth is they only made me trip over my own feet. I loved my Dr. Scholl’s wooden exercise sandals until they broke my big toe. I stopped wearing hoop earrings the first time my newborn grabbed one. I’m amazed the fashion police never caught me. These days my wardrobe is much more subdued. Sundays I wear a skirt, a sweater and a pair of black Mary Janes. Every single other day it’s a T-shirt, sneakers and jeans. It's still a long way from high fashion, but at least I'm no longer a danger to myself and others.

China Plate

Blue and white ware generally refers to white pottery or porcelain with a cobalt oxide underglaze. The oldest and most valuable blue and white pottery is from China or Persia, from as far back as the ninth century. Geometric designs, dragons, cranes and floral patterns have always been popular blue and white motifs. In 1816 the Engish potter Josiah Spode developed a blue and white transferware dinner service called Italian Blue. The center of the plate is a peaceful scene, supposedly an Italian ruin. The edges are covered with a Chinoiserie Art Deco motif. I have a small but growing collection of Spode Blue Italian. Some have back stamps from the 1800's and some are much newer. I love and use them all. I try to follow William Morris’ admonition: “Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

Cup and Saucer

I don’t drink regular tea, but I like a cup of herbal now and then. I find chamomile relaxing, and mint tea can be helpful with an upset stomach. Currently I have in my cupboard Taylors of Harrogate Raspberry Vanilla, and Harry & David Sweet Orange Spice. When I was in school, Grandma used to share a cup of tea with me in the afternoons. Tea won’t be hurried. It forces you to sit and chat. Before you know it you’re sharing all your troubles; the teacher who’s picking on you, the boy who ignores you, the assignment you don’t understand. Grandma’s beverage of choice was Gossip Tea. It was a spicy herbal blend with rosehips, hibiscus, and orange peel. I’ve tried for years to find it, but it doesn’t seem to exist anymore. Google “gossip tea,” and you get all sorts of useless information. But no tea.

Memory

Modern Day Yuppie Blues - Tom Rush

Looking for my wallet and my car keys, they can’t have gone too far;
As soon as I find my glasses I’m sure I’ll see just where they are.
Supposed to meet someone for lunch today, but can’t remember where,
Or who it is I’m meeting. It’s in my organizer somewhere.

Might have left it on the counter. Maybe outside in the car.
Last time I remember driving was to that memory enhancement seminar.
What’s that far-off distant ringing and that strangely familiar tone?
Must be the person I’m meeting calling me on my cordless phone.

Might have left it under the covers. Maybe outside on the lawn;
I’ve got one more ring to go before my answering machine kicks on.
“This is Tom and your call means a lot to me, so leave a message at the tone
I’ll do my best to try to remember to call you when I get home.”

“Tom, this is Gwendoline. I’m trying not to cry
I’ve been waiting for over an hour. I thought you loved me. This is goodbye!”
Well, the voice sounds familiar, and the name rings a bell.
Let’s see now, where was I? Oh well...

Cake Stand

Lemon Drizzle Cake

7/8 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
zest 2 lemons

for drizzle:
juice 2 lemons
1/3 cup sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8" cake tin and line the with parchment. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add zest and beat another minute or two. In a small bowl beat eggs until combined. Gradually add eggs to butter/sugar mixture. Sift in flour and gently fold into the mixture. Don’t over mix. Spoon mixture into tin and bake 50 minutes. Test the cake with a skewer. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. Remove from oven and prick cake all over with a fork. Stir the lemon juice and sugar for the drizzle together. Pour over cake. Cool slightly, remove from tin. Finish cooling on a wire rack.

Boys' Nonsense

My husband and I raised three boys, so we’ve seen our fair share of nonsense. One of our sons was particularly creative about getting into trouble. He once tried to carve his own bedpost into a totem pole. He lit matches under his desk to watch the enamel burn. He split his head open trying to swing like Tarzan from the shower curtain. We love him dearly, but for years we’ve been on the edges of our seats waiting to see what he’ll decide to do next. Today’s block, Boys’ Nonsense, was published in the first catalogue of quilt block patterns, The Ladies Art Company. It looks much more complicated than it is: a nine-patch block with four half square triangles in the corners, four quarter square triangles making up the sides, and one solid square in the middle. Mine is a 9" block, with Darlene Zimmerman's Clothesline Club 30's prints and a Kona Snow background.

Little Red Schoolhouse

I learned to read before starting kindergarten. Mother had a book with pictures and activities for each letter of the alphabet. One page showed a lower case H looking like a chair. You can run in circles until you’re tired, then sit in a chair and pant, “Huh, huh, huh.” You’re making the sound the letter H does: “Huh.” I wanted to go to school so badly I could taste it. Wonderful things would happen there. I’d learn amazing new stuff. I’d meet great kids who were just like me. At the same time I was terrified I wouldn’t learn to tie my shoes before the first day of school. What if I was the only one in the class who couldn’t master the loop and bunny?  Most big steps in my life are like this; a thrill of excitement that things may turn out the way I hope, a thrill of terror that they won’t. I’m usually a little right on both counts. Huh.