Six Years Ago Today

Today marks 6 years since my mother suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke that left her in a vegetative condition until her passing February 2009.  In some respects, it's easier as time has a way of lessening the pain but in other respects, this day just plain sucks.

But then I remember all the happy times and I especially remember her telling me one day that if she passed away before I did, she would do things around me to let me know she's there.

Since she died, I've been receiving hearts in many forms, as I have outlined in this blog from time to time.  However, she really outdid herself this Christmas, though.  Christmas Eve I was sitting at the dining room table wrapping gifts.  My husband was standing next to the front door which opens to the entry hall and the stairway that leads to the second floor.  While I was sitting perfectly still and he was standing perfectly still, a pink marble literally and I mean literally fell from the ceiling.

We both said, "what was that?"  He bent over and found the pink marble.  I've never owned a pink marble in my life and we stared at it in amazement.  I finally smiled and said, "that's mom wanting to wish us a Merry Christmas."  Mom's favorite color was pink.  Believe me, the pink marble was from her.

So while my mind replays the horrible events of December 28, 2005, one look at the pink marble now nestled safely in our china cabinet, I am quietly soothed knowing that the memories are just that; memories and the reality of her existence today is far more beautiful than you and I can ever imagine.  And for that, I am grateful.

I love you, mom!

A Simple Christmas

Normally I go all out for Christmas. Back in 2004, I think we had a total of 13 trees around the house-big and small.  Every room was decorated to the hilt and it took 2 weeks to put up and 2 weeks to take down and clean.

That was the end of that.

Since then, some years were more festive than others, but still the house looked Christmasy and all was well.  This year, however, I didn't do much.  No full-size tree and no santa collection on display.  There's just too much swirling around keeping my attention and Christmas decorating kept being put on the back burner.

But finally I decided to throw a few things together and I couldn't be happier.

I adore the fireplace this year:

Since it doesn't scream, "Christmas", the design can be left up through the end of January.

My favorite antique mannequin is decked out in a festive vintage apron and I placed a cow muzzle on her head to look like a hat.  :)

The awesome cow sign was picked up in Springfield, Missouri this Spring for a whopping $5!  I hung a pair of vintage denim overalls that is sized to fit a doll next to the cow sign.

It's sort of a farmhouse-themed mantle this year with greenery intertwined with snowflake fabric.  A wooden barn stands at one end of the mantle and a house is at the other end with the vintage farm auction sign in the middle.

I stuck an old flower frog in the bottom of the white milk glass bowl to hold the candy cane and then I filled with colored lights.  It's really pretty at night!

The last card my mother sent to me before she had a stroke is always displayed prominently each Christmas since 2005.  Christmas was her favorite holiday and I like to think she decorates the heavens each year for the birthday of Jesus.  :)

Not photographed are two tabletop fiber optic trees.  They may be cheesy, but I enjoy them.

A simple Christmas.  I like it.

Thyme in a Glass

Happiness is continually forgetting to add "new kitchen plant" to the shopping list and then realizing that when I purchased thyme for a recipe, the plastic package I picked up from Target actually had the thyme still connected to its' root system with the dirt from a peat pot.

I then grabbed a tiny glass from the cupboard and plopped the thyme plant inside and wa-la:  instant kitchen plant atop the vintage cherry tin.

I doubt I'll be able to keep this plant over the long haul, but I'm enjoying it every day thus far!

One Down

So yesterday I worked on the handmade item that will be given to our daughter and son-in-law.  Last year I made a pillow for them and this year, I wanted to do something different.

Here's the end result:

First, I took burlap and cut a long strip.  I went over to the sewing machine and hand-crafted the burlap to resemble a nest by using some stitches and folding over the burlap until I was happy with the end result.

I purchased a roll of old apron tags a long time ago, and I cut off enough of the ribbon tags to sew onto the nest so the ornament can hang off a tree branch.  Or, since the nest sits on the table well, one could fold the apron tags inside to resemble nesting material.

I hand-stamped their last name (ralston)  onto the plain portion of an old feedsack and cut each out into block form.  Slim copper wire was threaded through the pieces of material to resemble a banner and I affixed each end of the wire to the burlap.

Working with burlap to make nests is excellent because it naturally starts to unravel, which makes the nest look more authentic.

For the bird, I cut up an old Cornhusker brand corn seed sack and sewed the bird together to make it three-dimensional.

For the wings, I cut the corn logo out and then sewed it to the sides of the bird.

I made sure to use the printed portions of the seed sack to add visual interest to the bird.

The final product can be displayed together or separate.

I see a few more of these in my future and will most likely add a few to my Etsy shop, as well.  :)

Since Thanksgiving. . .

Since Thanksgiving:

I've had a root canal.

Finally finished decorating for Christmas today.  It's simple and I like it.

Was told yesterday that all my blood tests sent to Mayo turned out GREAT and the most exciting news is that my numbers are the lowest they have ever been.  We have concluded that the last really bad spell may have been a flare or most likely due to my primary giving me medication to control my cholesterol.  Most cholesterol drugs work by absorption and so while they may have been taking out the bad fats, they were also taking out my medications making me very ill.  Since switching to Niaspan, I have improved.  Yay!  I'm still needing my rescue meds a few times a week, but I can't complain at all.  The tests confirmed no mutation and very, very low tryptase numbers.  How great is that?  The Gleevec is still working!

Have oral surgery scheduled for Monday.  I'm 41 and still have my wisdom teeth.  When I went to the dentist to inquire about the tooth that eventually needed a root canal done by an endodontist, I was told that I had cavities in all 4 of my wisdom teeth, which isn't unusual at all if the wisdom teeth are still in at this age.  Also, while having those taken out, I had a molar fall out two years ago due to needing a root canal and I was too scared to have one done, so the tooth completely broke off and left the roots in, so the roots will now be taken out, as well.

Been busy selling on Etsy and eBay to pay for said dental services.  We have insurance, but the costs far exceed the insurance coverage, so all my "fun" money is being paid to the great endodontist, the oral surgeon and my dentist.

Finally, I have done most of my Christmas shopping online and buying only handmade items from Etsy. There are a few on our list that will require shopping at the big box stores, but I'm pretty happy with the gifting this year thus far.  I would like to make a few things before Christmas, but I'm not sure that will come together.

Tis a busy time!  Hope you are all enjoying this blessed last month of the year!

A Thimble For Your Thoughts

I was going through jars and jars of vintage buttons today to get ready for listing on Etsy when I came across this battered thimble.  It's so tiny I can barely fit it over my finger.

Imagine the beautiful quilts and clothing it helped to sew by aiding a pioneering woman back in the early 1900's in the central Kansas prairie.

Perhaps she created a couple of the hand-sewn quilts I will be listing on eBay this weekend.

It's just a tiny piece of history, but one in which imaginations start to run wild while trying piece together a life lived so long ago.