Aprons

My friend Bridget sent this.  Brought back a few memories.

Remember making an apron in Home Ec.? I don’t think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma’s apron was to protect the dress underneath,because she only had a few,it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children’s tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow,bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the menfolks knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ‘old-time apron’ that served so many purposes.

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don’t think I ever caught anything from an apron.

New Year’s Day

… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.   Mark Twain

Thank you for reading by blog, and for leaving comments this past year.

May 2010 bring you days of peace, happiness, health, love, incredible journeys, and a few tears. For without a few sad days you will not  appreciate how truly blessed you are.

I like being me.

My DH and I are having an evening of culture (watching The Hangover). This time of the year, we need to sit back and reflect, to be a bit easier on ourselves.   Tonight forget about the presents to be wrapped, the shopping to be done.  Christmas will come……….and go, whether you are ready or not! Snuggle with your sweet heart and watch a good comedy.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I’ve aged, I’ve become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend. I don’t chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn’t need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70’s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love … I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old..

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong.

I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day(if I feel like it).

My Christmas diet

As last year CHristmas diet did not work (I gained 7 pounds), I am ready to change my eating habits.   Here are a few types I found on the Internet.

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS -

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It’s rare. You can’t find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory, celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, glass of wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, “WOO HOO, what a ride!”

The Christmas count down

“Christmas is a time of little time.
How we get there is a mystery.
Racing madly mall-to-mall, we climb
Into fields of sunlit harmony.
Shopping, cooking, clearing walks and yards,
Trimming house and tree while working, too;
Making phone calls, wrapping, writing cards,
As all worn out we do what we must do
So that this day of joy might joy renew.”
- Nicholas Gordon

It seems hard to believe there is only 30 days remaining in this year. Where does the time go? When my children were small the days were a rush of swimming lessons, piano, skating, brownies, school concerts……..the list goes on and on.   My children are grown now, but still the days rush forward, sometimes so fast, the year is simply a blur.

The idea that no one is perfect is a view most commonly held by people with no grandchildren. ~Doug Larson

Carl and I both slept in this morning after a wonderful, hectic, fun filled extra long weekend with the grand-daughters. Usually when we visit we stay at the hotel, as we are early risers and they are night owls.  But as Ron and Andrea were off cavorting in NYC, we nestled down in Sarah’s room. With so many DVDs to watch, and so much to do, we all adjusted our sleeping schedules.

My youngest grand-daughter Emma kept the activities coming one after another. Emma will be a politician when she grows up. If she works a crowd the way she works her grandparents, she will be the prime minister by the time she is thirty. Since she was old enough to crawl she has always spent equal time with Carl and I, showing no favourite. Emma and I designed quilt patterns both on paper and with plastic fusion beads.   Here’s one of her original designs which she wants made into a full size quilt.

Carl and Emma did a few walk abouts around the house, played on the Wii, shot pool, let him win at cards and read books together.   As a family we watch DVDs especially Wall-E and Shrek 3 (especially the commentaries), sang silly songs, went shopping, went on walks, shopped for pyjamas and  (as a special consideration to the grandparents) watched the news.   During the news, most of what came out of that little 8 year olds’ mouth, made more sense than the politicians we were watching.   She has very definite but well informed views on global warming, the H1N1 vaccine and the celebrating of Christmas as Baby Jesus birthday and not a gift giving extravaganza.

As grandparents it was our duty to see that the children ate properly.  The proof is in this picture of our visit to Dairy Queen.  Every one knows you eat sprinkled ice cream before the fries.

On Sunday afternoon we drove to Bath for a visit  with my sister Boo, where we enjoyed old fashioned molasses cookies and bread fresh from the oven.   When we returned home, Meaghan quickly mixed up a batch of bread.  Half was used to make pizza crust for supper. The other loaf was enjoyed the next morning with raspberry jam also made by Meaghan.  Each meal Meaghan would prepare the vegetables,  my job was to cook the meat (as she is vegetarian).  I was also allowed to prepare Kraft dinner for lunch under the watchful eye and strict directions of Emma.  Apparently I prepared it wrong the last time.

Besides making a batch of toblerone fudge, Meaghan also did all the dishes.  She also presented us with her home made soap, one bar of aloe vera and a bar of cinnamon soap. As a grand-daughters go,  she is definitely a keeper!

By the time, Andrea and Ron arrived home Monday afternoon we were ready to say our goodbyes, already looking forward to next month’s visit.

I mediate, I do yoga and I chant

……………..and I still want to smack someone!

It has been one of those weeks, but luckily I have a good friend to help me through it.  Thanks Win for the great card, see you back at the gym Monday morning.

More than we deserve

Our friend Fred sent this via email and I thought it was appropriate for Thanksgiving.  The quote  is from Robert R. Walsh, Noisy Stones.

More Than We Deserve    I heard the Second Brandenburg Concerto played in honor of Bach’s 300th birthday, and was swept away. I remembered a story about the people who send messages into outer space. Someone suggested sending a piece by Bach.

The reply was, “But that would be bragging.”

Some say we get what we deserve in life, but I don’t believe it. We certainly don’t deserve Bach. What have I done to deserve the Second Brandenburg Concerto? I have not been kind enough; I have not done enough justice; I have not loved my neighbour, or myself, sufficiently; I have not praised God enough to have earned a gift like this.

Life is a gift we have not earned and for which we cannot pay. There is no necessity that there be a universe, no inevitability about a world moving toward life and then self-consciousness. There might have been …. nothing at all.

Since we have not earned Bach, or crocuses, or lovers, the best we can do is express our gratitude for the undeserved gifts, and do our share of the work of creation.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

And for those friends who like their Thanksgiving on the lighter side:

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Disobedience

Pooh, promise you won’t forget about me, ever. Not even when I’m a hundred.”
Pooh thought for a little. “How old shall I be then?”
“Ninety-nine.”
Pooh Nodded. “I promise,” he said.

Today CBC announced the publication of the sequel “Return to the Hundred Acre woods.”  How could any one improve on Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin?  So far the reviews of the new book have been quite favourable.

A.A. Milne has always been a favourite in our house, especially the “Now we are Six” poems.  I first read the poems when I was 14 and it was one of the first book I bought for Andrea. At bedtime the poems were much easier on little ears.  It is no small wonder her middle name is Robyn.

At the end of the broadcast, driving along by myself, I recited my favourite A.A. Milne poem, “Disobedience”.   I could not count the number of time I read that poem to Andrea, and later to John Douglas,

James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James
Said to his Mother,
“Mother”, he said, said he;
“You must never go down to the end of the town,
if you don’t go down with me.”

James James
Morrison’s Mother
Put on a golden gown,
James James
Morrison’s Mother
Drove to the end of the town.
James James
Morrison’s Mother
Said to herself, said she:
“I can get right down to the end of the town and be
back in time for tea”

King John
Put up a notice,
“LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES
MORRISON’S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY;
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN TO THE END OF THE TOWN-
FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!

James James
Morrison Morrison
(Commonly known as Jim)
Told his
Other relations
Not to go blaming _him_.
James James
Said to his Mother,
“Mother”, he said, said he:
“You must never go down to the end of the town with-
out consulting me.”

James James
Morrison’s Mother
Hasn’t been heard of since.
King John
Said he was sorry,
So did the Queen and Prince.
King John
(Somebody told me)
Said to a man he knew:
“If people go down to the end of the town, well,
what can anyone do?”

(Now then, very softly)

J. J.
M. M.
W. G. Du P.
Took great
C/o his M*****
Though he was only 3.
J. J.
Said to his M*****
“M*****”, he said, said he:
“You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-if-
you-don’t-go-down-with-ME!”

– A. A. Milne

What’s your favourite Pooh?

October – isn’t it beautiful

“Crispy air and azure skies,
High above, a white cloud flies,
Bright as newly fallen snow.
Oh the joy to those who know October!

Colors bright on bush and tree.
Over the weedy swamp, we see
A veil of purple and brown and gold.
Thy beauty words have never told. October!

Scolding sparrows on the lawn,
Rabbits frisking home at dawn,
Pheasants midst the sheaves of grain,
All in harmony acclaim, October!

Brown earth freshly turned by plow,
Apples shine on bended bough,
Bins o’erflowed with oats and wheat,
And satisfaction reigns complete. October!

Radiant joy is everywhere.
Spirits in tune to the spicy air,
Thrill in the glory of each day.
Life’s worth living when we say, October!”
-   Joseph Pullman Porter

Photo borrowed from my daughter’s flickr site.