Happy Birthday Aunt Elaine!

The above picture is of 3 amazing women in my life- my cousin Judy, my mother, and my Aunt Elaine.  Aunt Elaine doesn’t like to have her picture taken- bet you can pick her out!  She is kind enough to oblige us from time to time when we really want her in a picture, but she doesn’t have to like it! 

In years to come, it will not be an old color glossy 4 X 6 that will help future generations know more about Aunt Elaine.  But they will indeed know her and picture her fondly.  It will be in the stories and descriptions passed down by her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.  It will be in recipes and birthday cards.  It will be in stories as we describe with delight her kitchens in the various homes she has lived in during her adult life.  She will be known for caring for her mother and making a home for her to live out her life in.  There will be fishing stories.  No Christmas will ever pass in the lives of anyone who has ever spent a Christmas with her without the memory of her toffee, her corn, her jam cakes, her caramels.  No other apple pie in the world will ever measure up to hers with the crisp glistening caramel on top.  Not one of us have ever danced in a recital or turned a tassel on a graduation cap that she has not been there to watch.  Her pantry has always been and continues to be pure delight and 10 yards deep, filled with whole packs of candy bars and the newest snacks and the ingredients to throw together pretty much any recipe she spots.  I am fortunate because I carry her name as my middle name!

Someday, someone will pick up a stack of faded pictures and be completely unable to name the faces looking back in spite of our clever poses.  But stories of Aunt Elaine will still be circulating as will her recipes, I’m quite sure.

Happy Birthday to my Aunt Elaine!  Oh, that every child could be blessed with an aunt like you.  I love you so much.

Wednesday Link Love

Isn’t this fun! Imagine just happening upon this event!

When my girls were little they went to spend a week with their Aunt Rosenna and came home raving about the snack she made them.  I checked with her to see what it was, and she confessed to not having much in the way of sweets in the house so she whipped up some frosting and used it on graham crackers.  I bet they tasted as good to the girls as these look to me!

I went to a presentation recently on doing this as well as some other creative stuff with boarded up properties.  A house across the street from me has been boarded up since January- wish some guerilla artist would surprise us with something like this!

Isn’t this fun?!  I think I could actually make this!

I don’t know which of these I love most, because I adore them all. 

Good article for all of us moms who never seem to be in the family pictures.

My friend Beth is having a fun giveaway.  Stop by before Saturday morning and leave her some love.  You will love her farmer’s market updates and her art.

OH!!!!!

How in the world did I not know that one of my favorite books has been made into a movie?  I can’t wait for it to get here!!!

Wednesday Link Love

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Let’s have a pinata party!

Now I really want to make a floor cloth!

Check out this major wedding gig that the Junk Gypsys had!!

Wanna smile?

For years when I have described this ice cream truck that came to our neighborhood, no one seemed to have any idea what I was talking about. Finally found proof that there was indeed a round ice cream truck shaped like a carousel!

Oh! I’ve been wanting something like this. Look how easy it can be!

I want to whip up some cards and do the challenge with Kelli.

Turquoise, white, AND built in beds? I do love wall beds so very much!

Love this subway art and the price is right!

And this cool poster-y thing!

Turn the Page Tuesday

Years ago I read Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and it is one of those books I still think of these years later.  Dreams of Joy will no doubt be long thought of as well.  In spite of some really painful imagery, I could not put it down.   My friend visited China last year and came back telling me a lot I didn’t know about life during the Great Leap Forward, just heartbreaking stories. This book was even more graphic, but a strong chord of beauty runs through every page.    I only regret that I did not read Shanghai Girls first, as Dreams of Joy begins where that story ended.    I was very sad to come to the end of the book. 

Some Really Late Link Love

Oh, what a week it has been! Details to follow, but let’s talk granny squares.  I mean, I seriously love granny squares. So imagine my delight!

I love beets. Dearly.  Really love beets.  And I do love doughnuts.  But beet doughnuts may be stretching the limits of my love.  But, how about mango doughnuts?

We enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at our friends’ house, and they set one long bountiful table for sometimes 30+ folks.  I’ve always thought it would be fun to do one of these tablecloths as a history of all of the people who have sat around that table.  And it would be fun to have a family version too!

I want a Giant Jenga game!!!!  Here are some instructions if anyone wants to try their hand at one.

I wish I were going to Brave Girls Camp.  While you are over there, be sure to sign up for the daily emails.  They are great!

Bookmark this post for a rainy Monday when you need it.

Check out Yindi’s golden 4th birthday.

In case you want a tent like Yindi’s. 

Seems like a ton of trouble, but look at the amazing pictures~

This is one great photo shoot backdrop.  Would I like one? You bet!   Would I make one?  probably not.

Kate and her family have hit the road.  Didn’t they do a great job on their trailer?!

Wednesday Link Love

I would like to rush right over to this etsy shop and buy 15 of this print to give to people. And I’d order a bunch of her other prints!

I love this dreamy print too!

These drawers and cabinets make my heart sing! Especially that pull out pantry. I have just the spot for it!

Has anyone seen a Hoffsicle in real life yet?

I’m just sorry that I didn’t discover these calendars of the month until July!

I want every child to have such a thoughtful teacher in first grade!

I love these! Can’t decide which one I like the most.

A book town! I want to visit!

Setting the table

This Sunday, as we continued to observe the time in the church year called Ordinary Time,  my pastor invited those of us who wanted to bring  a dish that was dear to us to set the communion table.  After each person told about their dish and placed it on the table we all said, “We set this ordinary table with extraordinary love.” 

And to make it all the more tender, our deacons served communion from those dishes. 

There was a toothpick holder that had been on my friend’s father-in-law’s simple table for years, the plate from another friend’s grandparents shelves, a plate brought from a childhood in Turkey, and so on.  Each time……setting an ordinary table with extraordinary love.

I brought one of the plates from our dishes we got when we got married and shared how on the day the first place setting  was delivered from Bacon’s (a bygone era), I remember holding the plate and looking long and hard at it and wondering who would be sitting around our table over the years.  I  underestimated!  Wayyy underestimated.  Never saw three kids coming down the pike or community  meals of 20 + friends, or the many new friends who would enter our lives.  We have and do indeed set an ordinary table with extraordinary love. 

Music Monday

Music tonight from the very talented Trabue family doing a cover of a Vespers song.  I like theirs better than the Vespers!

When I Grow Old, I Shall Wear……..Bangles?

But…what if I didn’t have style BEFORE I get old? Can I just wake up one day and wear leopard glasses?

Six Word Saturday

No Friend Like an Old Friend!

(Here’s to enduring friendships and long lunches and catching up.  Did we dream in high school we would discuss our failing vision and aching feet?!!!)

Link Love….on Thursday/Friday

Better late than never, I hope. I’ve had some computer issues I’ve been working my way through…

I’m seeing some glow cones in my future.

Perhaps my adult friends would prefer some of these, or how about some chocolate hummus?

Fun idea for some of those old cd cases you have hanging around.

Not sure why bracelets always catch my eye- I don’t even wear them. Maybe I want to…. Here are some cool ones to start with- these, and I think I like these because they remind me of camp days.

Love these ballerina paper dolls!

Two things I could and should make because I like them both so much! This mail sorter and these solar lights

Some beautiful tattoos. I especially love the calligraphy.!