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Sunday, November 15, 2015

JUST A DAY

Hello dear friends!  Well!  Hasn't this been a horrible week?  The tragedy in France, and the ongoing tragedies in the Ukraine and Syria, plus all the rumors of war, one can hardly sort them all out. Seems there's hardly any corner on earth that's at peace.  People always ask at times like these, "what can I do?".  Well, there's always prayers,  first and foremost,of course.  Become more compassionate, merciful, kind and generous.  Who knows?  Perhaps if we all work at it, we can become a counterbalance to all the wickedness in the world.   Maybe we can even outweigh it.  Well, that's my thoughts on it anyhow.

JUST A DAY

Guess what we did today?  We celebrated Thanksgiving!   It all started because the turkeys were on sale this week for fifty-two cents a pound ( our little-under-12-pound turkey ended up costing $6.11).  Who could pass that up?   But we don't have a big enough freezer for a turkey and what little space we do have  is used for storing bargains on cheese and butter and our foraged nuts.  Plus there were so many bargains that were pointing us to celebrating this week, it seemed that it was meant to be.   We even found a Oreo cookie crust on the reduced for quick sale rack for a dollar, so we could have our traditional chocolate eggnog pie.  Cranberries were ninety-nine cents a package, so we bought several  for  juice making later.  And finally butter prices have come down!   $2.39 a pound, so we stocked up, lately it had been creeping up to almost $4 a pound around here.

So we are celebrating Thanksgiving almost two weeks early.   It really doesn't matter, after all, Thanksgiving just a day on the calendar.  Our true thanks giving comes when we have gathered the last apple from the orchard, dug the last potato and canned the last green bean for the year.  Then we give thanks for the bounty of the earth and to our Creator for being so benevolent to us, undeserving as we may be.  We have enough food put by to see us through another year and plenty to share.  God is good!

To tell the truth, I hate the holidays.   Some years I would be quite content to go to sleep on the eve of Thanksgiving and not wake up until January 2nd.   All my children live too far away to share in the celebrations except for one son who chooses to spend them with his in-laws.  You know the old saying about a son being a son until takes a wife?   But even before my children grew up and left home, coming from a family of drama queens, holidays were always tension filled.  So I started to feel the blues come on when I saw a sign at a local store announcing there were only 46 more shopping days until Christmas.  I knew I needed to readjust my attitude quickly, reminding myself that I don't really like entertaining and  I'm not overly fond of spending all day in the kitchen either.  I also had to remind myself, while it's a lovely fantasy that we'll all gather together and be laughing and reminiscing, the reality is far from it.   As my sister used to tell me, "We're not the Waltons.".  Or a Hallmark movie either, for that matter.  So what's to be done about the holiday blues?

First, focus on what you do love about them.  If you like to decorate, decorate.  If you like to bake  do so  and give it away.  If you like to give presents but don't have anyone to give them to, there's plenty of charities that would be glad to take them.   One of the most enjoyable things we do every year, is buy toys for the Toy for Tots program and there's also a giving tree at the local grocery store.  Don't be a baby Pathetica, focusing on how lonely and sad you are, think about how you can help others. Visit shut-ins, volunteer at a soup kitchen, babysit the neighbor's kids for free. If you have a job that stays open during the holidays, you might consider volunteering to work on the holidays so that others that have family can spend it with theirs.  There's so much pressure on being happy during the holidays, but has anyone seriously recaptured the joy they felt on Christmas when they were nine years old?  Life gets in the way.  Lower your expectations.  As Benjamin Franklin said, "I'd rather be a pessimist, because then I can only be pleasantly surprised.".

If you really can't bear the thought of holidays, just ignore them, keep your head down and plow through  them.  If it means staying in your pajamas all day and eating chips and drinking pop while watching old movies, so be it.  Be kind to yourself.  If the sight of the neighbor's family gathering together makes you bitter, draw the curtains and turn off the TV movies all filled with Norman Rockwell images of the "perfect" holiday.  Don't answer the phone if listening to family tell you what a wonderful time they are having without out you feels like a stab in the heart.  You're human after all, most of us aren't cut out to be Stella Dallas. I speak from experience!  Just think of it as  having a bad cold.   Just something to bear with for a short while, things will be better tomorrow.  After all, it's only just a day!

For my part, I like to focus on the spiritual aspect of the day.  And now I finally have the time to do it.  I also love to make homemade presents for my husband, it reminds me of when we were first falling in love and I hadn't any money for gifts.  And it's nice that he appreciates them too, for there's nothing  worse than to spend hours upon hours making a gift that isn't appreciated. We were just discussing how when we were young, we would have given our eye teeth to just be alone during the holidays, there were so many obligations back then; it was rush-rush -rush, with hardly time to catch our breath. Now we have the golden opportunity to do it! There will be lots of watching the snow fall (we're expecting several inches later this week!) with Nat King Cole crooning to us in the background and  moonlit walks along the snowy lanes and  quiet talks beside the fire.  It will certainly be different than the busy holidays we had when the boys were all home and every day on the calendar was filled with activities.  But hey!   Who says things have to remain the same?

But most importantly, remember to count your blessings.  If you have food in your stomach, a roof over your head, you are blessed.   An extra bonus if you have someone special to share it with.  We've been desperately poor at times, but we discovered that usually they were our happiest times.  Here's a true story of a particular trying time and how we managed to have a joyous Christmas in spite of  our pocketbooks.

CRAFTING

All right, enough of that!  I've rediscovered the joys of sewing this week.   I used to sew a great deal when I was younger.  Before the advent of thrift stores, sewing was an economical way to build a wardrobe, but now sewing has become an expensive hobby.   My mother was a wonderful seamstress, but a horrible teacher.  She basically just left us to our own devices and would occasionally yell  into the dining room, where our sewing machine was a permanent fixture at the end of the table, that there was something wrong with the tension on the sewing machine, which she could tell just from the sound of it.   But I did learn quite a bit just from watching her.  We also had 4-H and everyone learned to sew an apron in Home Economics  class.  While most of my sewing these days consists of pillows and an apron or two, what I really want, is to become an expert tailor.   This week I'm sewing my husband a vest, which sounds simple enough, except this pattern has a tricky pocket like the ones in men's suits.  So now I've learned how to do that and discovered some tricks along the way to make the next one easier.  I also had to redraft some of the pattern because the measurements were way off on the vintage pattern. I think it's going to turn out alright.  It will certainly have a hand crafted look to it, which I think is good.  Don't want it to look mass-produced.  Anyway, it's slow going as my machine is in the same room as the woodstove and the heat blasts me out of the room quite often!  Speaking of which, here it the middle of November and we still haven't used the furnace!  But this will probably be the last week for that as the temperatures are supposed to plummet this week.

GARDENING

There isn't much gardening going on around here anymore, but we are experimenting with growing lettuce in our unheated enclosed porch.  We planted the seeds in an old galvanized trough-like chicken feeder that we picked up at a garage sale for a quarter.  The seeds have come up, so we'll have to see how successful this experiment is.  Will keep you posted.

Inside, all my Christmas cacti are in bloom.  Here's a picture of a rare yellow one that I've been babying along.
I used to pick up Christmas cacti during the after-Christmas sales for $1.  Then I'd repot them into pretty planters that I found during the garage sale season.   For less than two dollars I have a nice hostess gift.  Now I have a quite a forest of them as they need to be divided from time to time and it costs me nothing for the plants.  I always have good luck finding old McCoy planters for less than a dollar around here, often for a quarter.   Now that's a thrifty gift!

RECIPE

Chocolate eggnog pie has become a Thanksgiving tradition at our house.  It not the most economical of recipes (why is eggnog so expensive?) but here's the recipe for those that are curious:

Chocolate Eggnog Pie

1 9-inch graham cracker crust
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/2 C. cold water
1/3 C. sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
2 C. eggnog
1 1/2 squares baking chocolate, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. rum extract
2 C. whipped topping

In a small bowl, soften the gelatin in the water, set aside.

In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt.  Gradually stir in eggnog.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened.  Remove from heat, add gelatin, stirring until dissolved.

Divide filling in half, setting half aside to cool.  Add melted chocolate and vanilla to one half ; stir well.  Pour into pie shell and chill.

Meanwhile add rum extract to the remaining filling.  Fold in whipped topping.  Spoon over chocolate layer.  Refrigerate overnight.

Well this is turning into a long-winded post!  Best be getting on to:

THRIFTY THINGS WE DID THIS WEEK

Bought turkey for 52 cents/lb, cranberries for 99 cents/lb. and even got the stollen for the stuffing for $1.50 (it was crushed and on the discount rack of our Polish butcher).  The rest of our Thanksgiving meal came from our garden and pantry, making the total less than $10 for the three of us plus plenty left over for the rest of the week.

My dear friend, Matty, sent me a book that was several nights amusement.

Sewing a vest for my husband from wool that I purchased at the thrift store for $3.

Still heating with wood from free pallets.

Found a free internet security site to replace the $80 a year Norton security we have on the computer presently.

Watched several old movies on YouTube.

Kept the car parked in the driveway, saving on gas.

Well that's it for this week!  Hope you have a wonderful day and an even more lovely day tomorrow!

Jane

















29 comments:

  1. Happy Thanksgiving! Sounds like a delicious meal. Thank you for the pie recipe; I don't think that I have ever eaten that before, but I do love eggnog.
    Sorry that most of your children live too far away to celebrate the holidays with you. Can you skype with your children and grandchildren? I know it isn't the same, but it might be fun to watch your grand daughter open her presents.
    Congratulations on filling up your pantry. That has to feel great. You have inspired me to do more with my raised beds next year. Love the cactus too. My parents used to have several that bloomed around the holidays. I miss my Mom and Dad so much. Our lives change, and things don't always work out like we want, but we can still do the things that make us happy. I hope that you have a happy week too!

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    1. Hi Kathy! Thank you again for the lovely comment you left earlier today.

      Yes, we Skype with the grandkids. One of the few good things about modern technology. I'm afraid they are going to think we are characters on TV though! Ha!

      I hope you do do more with your raised beds. Homegrown vegetables are so much healthier for you!

      Sorry about your parents. My father has passed, but my mother just celebrated her 90th birthday. We tease her about living to 100 but she says she would wish that on her worst enemy!

      That's very true about finding things to make us happy. It might be a different way then what you were expecting, but that doesn't mean it can't be just as nice!

      Have A happy!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  2. Happy Thanksgiving Jane! Oh my, your pie looks so good!! I'm going to cut and paste your recipe, thanks!
    Ha...Having 4 boys myself I agree with what you quoted about boys. And yet my daughters don't gravitate here either so much! Oh well....luckily I do enjoy solitude. Most will be here for Thanksgiving.

    We focus on the spiritual side also. We start out Thanksgiving day with church. This makes it hard to cook a turkey so I bought turkey breasts, and I do have to do more prep work the night before. I get exhausted cooking on holidays so it doesn't hurt my feelings if anyone wants to not travel here. Plus I am happy they are so self-sufficient!

    I would think our country's first Thanksgiving was celebrated closer to bringing in the crops.

    I buy butter (and most groceries) at Costco and they have good prices. I think sewing is a good hobby as it is practical and material is not too expensive. (And hopefully my sewing machine will not break!) I am just learning but I find it very rewarding.

    Your Christmas cactus is beautiful! I love them...but yours is such a pretty color. I could never get mine to re-blossom. I think all the hoop-la for Christmas is orchestrated, and doesn't bring true joy. Just think of how baby Jesus was so poor yet the joy from the angels singing and announcing His birth was so heavenly! When my kids were young, my favorite part of Christmas day was after I cleaned up dinner and they were all tired and would watch a movie in the evening. I would take that time to sit quietly (by myself) by our tree (and when I had a baby I'd be nursing too!) I'm going to read your Christmas link now.
    Andrea

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    1. Thanks Andrea! That pie is Jamie's favorite, and I can't complain about making it. It's so easy.

      I try to make all the side dishes the day before, so I just have to pop them in the oven and on the stove. I don't mind the work preparing the meal, always said it takes more work to make a salad than a turkey, with all the lettuce washing and chopping. Ha! What exhausts me is try to keep everyone happy, there's always one party pooper in the bunch!

      I bought a cheap Singer sewing machine a few years ago. For years I muddled through on a old inherited machine that constantly needed to readjust the tension. Took all the enjoyment right out of it. This machine is so easy to use. It doesn't do anything fancy, but I don't want it to anyhow. I like to do a lot of hand sewing for things like the buttonholes and hems. I guess I like for it to look handcrafted.

      I don't do anything special to make my Christmas cacti bloom. I read that you're supposed to put them someplace dark for so many days then bring them out. But mine bloom almost year around except for summer. I forget to water them for weeks at a time. They suffer from benign neglect.

      Oh yes! I remember those wonderful days when I had new babies in the house and nursed them at night to the lights of the Christmas tree. It was so serene just the two of us. Loved that time of life! Thanks for reminding me of those wonderful memories!

      Hugs
      Jane



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  3. Oh! What a beautiful and true story of your long-ago Christmas! (And now I am craving a hot dog...seriously! Ha....so true...babies don't care for gifts! We should all study babies and follow their example. (My husband and I don't exchange gifts....well...we do try at times but we just have different tastes!) Boy is it true that illnesses seem to come in pairs...not to mention your flooding...or ....skating rink. You write beautifully. If you wrote this all in a book I would love to buy it! Andrea

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    1. Thanks for the sweet words, Andrea! Hope you get a better quality hot dog! But thank heavens for those hot dogs, they kept the wolves from the door!

      Babies are the purist souls on earth. To bad they can't stay that way forever. Imagine what the world would be like.

      My husband and I just give money to charity instead of buying gifts. It's kind of silly anyhow, because if there's anything we really want we can buy it whenever we want. But I do like to knit him something as a special token of affection.

      Hugs
      Jane

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  4. Jane, I'm pea-green with envy that you're already done with Thanksgiving. I love celebrating the holiday but there is so much work that goes into the meal that I sometimes would like to skip it. We're not the Waltons either, is anybody?
    As far as Christmas goes, we gave up the commercial side of it several years ago meaning we don't give gifts but just enjoy each other's company and reflect on the true meaning of the day. We've found that to be very liberating. No more crazy lines in stores or pressure to spend unnecessarily.
    I had never heard of eggnog pie but I'm tempted to try your recipe, thank you for sharing it with us.
    I think it's great that you would like to become an expert tailor. I've sewn for years and years and saved a lot of money with that skill, but I don't think I reached tailor status unless having made a leisure.
    suit qualifies me for it, lol.
    Love the pretty cactus.
    Have a great week!

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    1. Hi Toni! It would be kind of nice if they're were some families out there that were like the Waltons. But hopefully by sharing here, others will realize they are not alone.

      I find not having a TV and living in the sticks really helps keep the commercial aspects of the holiday out of sight. That's why I was so shocked to see that sign counting down the days to Christmas. I just didn't see the big ramp up.

      I'd like to become an expert tailor, I admire people that can really sew, so much. But boy,sometimes the patterns are like reading Greek! I have some old patterns that have directions that just say "assemble the dress". For the most part dresses are pretty easy, but I've yet to discover the secret to making a nice looking pair of trousers. That fly assembly is pretty confusing. But I'm determined! At least now days we can find instructions for anything on the internet. Used to know a gentleman that sewed all his own suits. He always looked so smart. Got a long way to go until I get there!

      Hugs

      Jane

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  5. Yellow Christmas cactus? Never seen one before and it is so pretty! My friend Eleanor's Christmas cactus had, wait for it, 42 blooms! It is lovely! Every year we make it a habit to count them all to see if it topped last year! LOL

    Thanksgiving for us will be with my parents; thank God we have them another year! The actual day, I will prepare either a small turkey or an organic chicken I got on close out that is in the freezer... We'll have veggies from our home canned goods and I'll bake rolls and make some kind of cobbler... Easy, peasy!

    So glad you enjoyed the book! Wasn't it a hoot!? I have knit all weekend. I caught a large ball of baby yarn on clearance and I have two more babies I want to knit a gift. So, a quick blanket is in process... and I hope to make a matching hat!

    When it was just me and my son, we would go to the movies on Thanksgiving and eat popcorn. We always go the refillable one as we would share and eat all day on it! LOL Fun times! We did the same at Christmas and New Year's. Just being the two of us, and all my family was elsewhere at the time, it was a nice, quiet way to spend the day!

    Have a marvelous week and enjoy those snowflakes!

    Hugs!

    M

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    1. We used to have a huge Christmas cactus in an old fern stand that the cat slept on. It was huge. I remember when they got passed down in families. No one could bear to throw them out, they live forever. I tried to kill one by leaving it out in the sun all summer and not watering it. It's beginning to look like a funeral home in here with all these plants. Unfortunately it started to bud in October, so I brought it back inside. Such a softie!

      Those Hoovers were the very definition of babes in the woods! Do you really think they fed the bears? Amazing they survived to write the book!

      You must be having a baby boom in your neck of the woods! Well, happy knitting. It's a good thing you enjoy it so much!

      I think the movies is a perfect way to spend the holidays. Bet the airman has fond memories of it.

      Now that we've had our Thanksgiving, I hope I don't forget and go to the store on Black Friday. Yikes!

      Hopefully, we'll get that snow, now they downgraded the forecast. I tell you, I'd love to have the job as a weather forecaster for P.A. They have 0% accuracy and still keep they're job!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  6. Thanks for your honesty and encouragement on the "real" holidays. My mother always made such a fuss at the holidays...well, it made them exhausting. So glad my husband insists on low-key holidays. I cook a nice meal just for the 10 of us (we have all eight still at home). We usually go on a hike while the turkey bakes in the roaster. And we eat our big holiday meals mid-day which allows us to relax in the afternoon and play board games. A snack is for dinner. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as it is just about us being together and being family.
    Blessings,
    Leslie

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    1. Cooking a meal for 10 sounds exhausting Leslie! But I'm sure it's just second nature to you. How wonderful to have such a big family! Yours sounds like the perfect holiday. Treasure those moments!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  7. Your little Thanksgiving sounds very pleasant. We will be hosting a family meal here and it will be fun but it is very stressful getting the plans and everyone coordinated.

    If you are interested in sewing, and if you can find it, I think you would enjoy The Great British Sewing Bee Season 1 on YouTube. It was a contest that really focused on the sewing without the drama on most reality TV.

    Here in Oklahoma, I have not yet turned on our heat either and I'm not burning anything in the fireplace either. It just been mild and our home is snug. I was chilled yesterday but after I put on socks and a sweater, I was cozy.

    I truly enjoy your blog!

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    1. It was a lovely day Rhonda. Perfect as it could be.

      I recall watching a few episodes of the show you mentioned on YouTube, but couldn't find the final ones. Wonder who won? Those British shows are wonderful. I like the baking one too. There sure are some talented amateurs out there!

      It certainly has been a mild year, weatherwise hasn't it? Guess we're finally getting a break from the last two!


      Hugs
      Jane

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    2. The older woman who did yoga with gray hair won. Was she named Jane, like you? I don't remember her name for sure but I do know she won.

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    3. Thanks for letting me know, Rhonda! As I recall, she was kind of a standout from the very beginning.

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  8. What a wonderful post as was the 'story' of other Christmases past.

    Holidays can be stressful, or they can be relaxed and joyful. This will be my dear husband's 3rd Christmas with Jesus. That is something to celebrate!

    I'm having my brother-in-law and sis-in-law over for Thanksgiving and am looking forward to that.

    You sure got a GREAT deal on your turkey and on butter. Glad you had a lovely,. early Thanksgiving celebration.

    Happy November and living each day, one day at a time.

    FlowerLady

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    1. You always have such a wonderful attitude Rainey! I'm glad you won't be alone on Thanksgiving. When God closes one door, He opens another and it sounds like your renewed friendship with your in-laws was your new door. Maybe your DH was orchestrating it from above? I like to think that.

      Yep, there's some great bargains out there at this time of year. I like to go grocery shopping just to see all the Christmas related foods, especially at Aldis where they have a lot of German things. No one says you have to buy any (and I usually don't except the seasonal English muffins!), but they are fun to look at!

      Have a fun (and hopefully cooler) week, dear friend!
      Hugs
      Jane

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  9. Hi Jane, Happy Thanks Giving! What a fun idea. I love turkey. I love holidays, but it's because usually we manage to get together with family, eat, talk, walk, play games and just have wholesome funtime together. It can be sad though when it's a holiday and you can't be together. I love all the baking and preparation and cosy twinkling lights too. But I know that for lots of people it's the hardest time.
    I'm just going to read about your holiday story.
    Thanks for sharing the eggnog pie. It sounds amazing.
    Happy days,
    debx

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  10. ps I meant to comment on the weeks happenings. So horrible...all those young vibrant people. Their poor parents and friends. If I hadn't had flu we were thinking of driving over to Paris for my birthday last week. How easy it is for innocent people to get caught up in such atrocities. Most people are good and kind at heart...it just takes one or two to upset things. I'm with you on the counterbalance. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
    dx

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    1. Then I'd say for once, having the flu was a blessing, Debbie. Belated happy birthday by the way! I hope I didn't come across as too depressed about the holidays. I just wrote this post as a way of letting other know that not everyone has one of the perfect Norman Rockwell illustrations holidays. Sometimes it helps to know that you are not alone. Hope you are feeling better!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  11. Hi Jane...It is such a tragedy! My heart goes out to all the refugees as well as the people in Paris!
    It breaks my heart that our Governor has closed Michigan's doors to the refugees, but his reasons are sensible since the enemies are using these poor people to infiltrate other countries...Like a Trojan Horse. Our dear family doctor is from Syria, he is a Christian, and a very sweet and caring person. Seems our whole world is a mess.
    Jeff and I will likely go to our favorite restaurant for Thanksgiving, since all the kids have other plans or are far away. I agree, not everyone has the traditional holiday celebration. Personally, I don't like to feel forced to celebrate when after all, everyday is special in its own right. My family and friends all know that I like to give them gifts randomly...just because. So, Jeff and I are not among the throngs of people filling the stores this season or any for that matter.
    Have a great week, Jane.
    God bless,
    Lisa

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    1. Ran and I were just talking about that the other day, Lisa. Too bad more churches don't sponsor some of the Christian Syrians. They have suffered so much for their faith already. They are true Christians.

      Everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving and I hope that people think of the humble and miraculous birth of our Savior on other days than Christmas. Personally, I like to get all of the secular festivities out of the way early in December so I can focus on what is truly important.

      Hugs
      Jane

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  12. I could do without holidays--glad I'm not alone in that. I have some lovely childhood memories of the weeks leading up to Christmas, but there were certain tensions surrounding the day itself--things I didn't begin to understand until later. Family 'get-togethers' are not always occasions of joy.
    I dread going into a store during the entire month of December.
    My sewing these days is mostly about curtains, quilts, pillow covers--or alterations on a garment from a charity shop.
    For years I made my own clothing as well as for my son and daughter and an assortment of other people. One of the most important details in creating a good looking garment is careful pressing at every step. Once you learn the alterations needed for a good fit you can apply those to almost any style.
    If you could locate some of the 'Sewing with Nancy' series by Nancy Zieman she has good tips and shortcuts which are more helpful than some of the pattern instructions. The price of patterns has become exorbitant. Both Simplicity and McCalls have 'learn to sew' patterns that cost less and help one to create good basic styles.
    I'm glad you have a decent sewing machine--it makes a big difference in motivation1

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    1. Hi Sharon! Hopefully others will see that they aren't alone also. Kind of glad we had our Thanksgiving early because the forecast calls for rain and cold. Not the most cheerful of weather.

      Oh yes! A proper pressing during all the steps is so important. That's one thing I learned from my mother. Also it's so important to have good dressmaker's carbon, I'm finding. The limited resources of the area left me with some pretty poor paper and getting those darts all to fall in the exact same spot has been a challenge. Might have to go back to the old tailor's method of sewing those little tufts (forget what they are called).

      I remember the Sewing with Nancy series. She sure could sew!

      I twisted the shaft on my old sewing machine sewing curtains and upholstery. Poor thing!
      I wore it right out. But I sure loved it.. Had the nicest drop-in bobbin. Maybe I should look up a good used one. It was a Singer from the 60s. I remember when my mom got it. The salesman came to the house and gave a demonstration. There was quite a bit of excitement surrounding its purchase.

      Hugs
      Jane

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  13. Hi again Jane! I can't believe, out of hundreds of Christmas cactus Home Depot got in stock today...one (only one) was yellow like yours! So I bought it, in honor of you. Plus, my mouth is watering waiting as I plan on making your chocolate eggnog pie for Thanksgiving! I had most of the ingredients...I just had to pick up rum flavoring. Thanks for all those tips/recipes! Happy Thanksgiving! Andrea

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    1. Hi Andrea! That's very sweet! Thank you! Aren't they pretty? I think they're just as pretty as orchids and a lot easier to care for. I love the little baby sized totes. Can't wait for Violet to get big enough for little things like that. Tatiana has always been too much of a tomboy for anything girly. Just dying to make little girly things! We used the leftover eggnog from the pie for French toast. It was great. Happy baking! Enjoy the big family day!

      Hugs
      Jane

      PS: We finally are getting that snow! So beautiful!

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  14. I know I've said this before, but I just love your grandchildren's names! Snow! Ohhh....I bet that is pretty. I grew up with wet snow many times on Thanksgiving in western Pennsylvania. love,andrea

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  15. Finally catching up on my blog reading, love that quote by Franklin! :) Also your eggnog pie looks delicious! I am finding that Christmas is definitely different now that the kids are getting older, I am definitely having to change some of my ideas about how often we can sit down and do family things.

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