Orchid Fully Bloomed

Two years ago my husband gave me this beautiful orchid for my birthday.  It was pretty then.  It is spectacular now!  It has been in bloom for a month.

Ashley had great success with orchids when she was home.  She knows lots about them, so I always call her when I have questions.  

"My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever."

Redecorating the Bathroom

One of the big projects I wanted to complete in time for the wedding was that of sprucing up the bathroom. We do not believe the house had a bathroom originally, so the room it now occupies was meant to be something else! It's a nice large size, so I'm thankful for that!
We had hoped to one day gut the whole room and start over, with a door into our new master bedroom. But life is just too short to do all the things we COULD do, if we had the time.



There is a Jacuzzi / "Baby Bear Swimming Pool" that is a little more of a bathtub that what I need (I dream of a porcelain claw-foot tub!).

I love "Laura Ashley number one" scent.

This is part of my collection of old hand towels. Many came from yard sales and thrift stores.

This one is my favorite! It's completely done by hand.

This is "Baby Bear's" shelf for his grooming supplies. The old chamber pot was found by Sayre in the woods at Bull Run.



I love this pretty mirror. It really sets the mood for this room. Pretty, simple, and old~fashioned.

The bust of the lady and the blue-capped talcum jar on the right, including the dish on which they all sit, were my Mother's.

I so enjoy getting out "the old stuff" and creating little vignettes in those special corners of the house. I find myself employing a bit of whimsy in many of my efforts, although I'm the only one that usually sees it! Thanks so much for sharing a minute or two with me!

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

For over twenty-two years now, I've had little boys at some stage of development, growing into manhood. Any mother of boys will tell you that they are full of fun and adventure. There is never a dull moment. There have been times when I yearned for a dull moment~or two!

Sawyer is dressed in the new jammies I made for him!

I've always enjoyed making pajamas for them. Jammies are so easy and fun to make! And the little guys sure enjoy them!

Today I would like to give you a little tour of Sawyer's room. I decided it would be best to give him his own room instead of sending him upstairs to "Man land" with his four other brothers.

His room is actually open; it is part of a hallway. We originally used it as a music room, but I've fixed it up for him~ for now. I haven't painted yet~just decorated with things I already had.
This is where we do most of our reading together.


I picked these little matching doilies up at the local antique mall in Donalds. I love the simple little dogs.

Here is his dresser. Dave refinished this piece shortly after we were first married. All our babies have used it.

This is one of the lampshades I recovered this summer.

I keep his "special" tiny books in this little make-do shelf. It is an old fruit box turned on it's side.
I found this set of guest towels at the antique mall as well. The sail and boat are hand appliqued with pin stitches. I love the '30s look in these towels.

Sweetie's bed is all ready for him. Mrs. Paula made the lovely pillow; I'm sure she never thought Sawyer would have confiscated it! It's just his size! Thank you Paula! I think of you every time I see it.

These "little boy" years will fly so quickly.

I made the shades this summer. When the top sash of the window is open, the ribbons are so pretty blowing in the breeze.
You can see my East Garden through his window.

Each shade is simply a double thickness of fabric ( I used one layer of sun blocking drapery lining on the back) with a casing on both short ends. The top casing contains a wooden dowel, for rigidity, and it lays in three cup hooks projecting from the top of the window opening. The bottom casing has a PVC pipe in it that is a nice size to roll up.

When the ribbon is not tied up, it just hangs down. It just lays over the top of the wooden dowel.


So, what are little boys made of? They are made of dirt, hugs, bent nails, rocks, soft warm skin, uncombed hair, trucks, The Lone Ranger, dirty feet, pop-guns, green teddy bears, western six-shooters, Andy and Barney, and camouflage.

Three Aprons

I've often wondered what it would be like to have a sister. I find myself wistfully studying sisters together, and notice there is often something very special between them. My poor little daughter, is also sister less, as was my Mother. It seems to run in the family! Hopefully, this trend will be broken one day!



For a family of eight, you would expect there to be more aprons hanging in the pantry than just two ~ Ashley's and my own. Now since Thelma has been visiting, we have added another one!


Speaking of aprons, I found some old ones recently at the local thrift store. The creative designs of these utilitarian garments is a testament to the resourcefulness of the homemakers who made them.

This one is made just like the one above. There is a little pocket concealed here on the sides.

This is a long border printed fabric.

Don't you love the pocket?


A pretty tie. I suspect these aprons are from the 1960's, if not a bit later.

This is a fancy one! It is ruffled with cotton organdy.

It's pink bias binding adds a special touch.

Ah cotton organdy! Nothing stands out like it!
I have a couple more to show you when time permits.

I wanted to give you a little peek at Marmee's new calendar for 2009! It is full of sweet family images that are sure to cheer you.

There is usually a receipt for the month, and some sweet poem or verse. If you have room for a very large calendar, you will like this one!

Special touches.


Thank you for visiting!

Stitching Projects Complete

This past summer, I was able to do several rather large projects. It has been hard for me to get my bearings after our move two years ago, as there have been many decisions that involve just how to live in our new home.
It takes me a while to live in a place, before I'm really comfortable making decisions about about domestic arrangements and decorating. I think I like to get the "feel" of a house ~ the way the sun comes through the windows accompanied by the heart's response to it; the view from the windows, and the thoughts that are evoked as you gaze out of them; the way your family life flows through the house.


This is an old sofa we brought from our former home, (literally ~ it was in the house when we moved there) and it is constructed with a wooden frame, but the "wicker" is really paper-wrapped wire. It is pretty old, but still useful.
Each seat cushion is an individual frame, consisting of old-fashioned hand-tied box springs,
with a thick layer of cotton batting covering them. I simply made removable covers, which are semi-fitted, and drawn up with a casing underneath the cushion frame.

Here is it's matching rocker. I keep this in the kitchen next to the fireplace and the window.
I can turn it around to be part of the conversation circle in the kitchen-at-large, or turn it into the kitchen work area. This is my favorite chair to have my devotions in the morning as I can see the men folk off as their times of departure vary.

The back cushions are large and comfortable.

Another project was a personal one. I had purchased a long length of 100% cotton crinkled fabric a couple of years ago, thinking it would make lovely, cool summer slips. So this is what I came up with.
I drafted a full length pattern using my sloper. I've never cared much for the adjustable ribbon-type straps, as they always fall down, so this pattern has "real" straps.

Here is a close-up of the hand embroidery. I used a bias strip of polyester crepe de chine for an elegant binding.


I hope you had a thoughtful Thanksgiving. We can all appreciate the freedom we still enjoy to worship God ~ which is the very reason the Pilgrims came to these shores nearly 300 years ago.

It only seems reasonable that we should use that freedom. Freedom is lost simply because it is no longer valued and used, but I must confess how easy it is for me to "hide my light" when in the company of those who don't seem to possess much light, as if I were ashamed to talk about God "as if He were real". I must remember that the people around me will never take spiritual matters seriously, if I am reluctant to be the "new creature" He has made me.

I hope you may be able to take time during the last few weeks of this year to finish up some of those unfinished projects you may have on your mental list. While you are working on them, and if need be, challenge yourself to "be lit" by His Light (The Word), so that you may be a light to others.