It's been sew long...

…. since I have done any sewing! But, the 'sewing bug' has taken hold after many years of dormancy and I have been thinking about sewing myself something pretty. But first I need to take my Montgomery Ward 1908b sewing machine to the local sewing shop and get it serviced.

This machine was a gift from my Mother when I graduated from high school in 1982. I loved it from the moment I first laid eyes on it. Over the past twenty or so years (yikes!), I have made many, many things with this wonderful little sewing machine.

In junior high and high school I took home economics and really enjoyed both the sewing classes and the cooking classes. I believe I missed my calling as I really, really want to be a stay-at-home wife who cooks, sews, and keeps a nice house.

Call me old-fashioned, but after a 20+ year career as a healthcare professional who holds a master's and a doctorate degree, nothing would thrill me more than to be able make a decent flaky pie crust. But I digress...

Some of my favourite things sewn over the years have included nightgowns, dresses, and skirts. I even made curtains for my first house, which magically transformed it into a home.

The first item on the sewing agenda: a long nightgown. It would be nice to make one long enough to cover my ankles as the store-bought ones are never long enough for my tall frame.

A month of Sundays...

If I had a month of Sundays I would…

• Read a raft of fairy tales and get lost in the pictures painted within.
• Bake carrot-ginger muffins with fat golden raisins hidden inside.
• Colour in my colouring books with paints and pencils.
• Knit a sweater for my Love that whispers "I care deeply for you".
• Stretch into yoga poses to ease the tension in my body.
• Nap in the pool of sunshine that covers our bed in the afternoons.
• Picnic in the park, sharing breadcrumbs with the birds.
• Sit in the back yard to simply listen to the wind in the trees.
• Take a long bubble bath.
• Give myself a tarot card reading with my favourite deck.
• Create a wild rice and vegetable soup with bright green peas.
• Listen to Van Morrison.
• Visit the Art Gallery to expand my mind.
• Learn a new-to-me constellation in the spring sky.
• Write a poem to the pussy willows.
• Bake shortbread cookies with a bit of Grand Marnier and cranberries.
• Take a walk through an unfamiliar park.
• Make a necklace using blue and yellow beads.
• Write a letter to someone I love.
• Write an English sonnet about the heavens above.
• Listen to our cat purr and watch her fall asleep.
• Sew a dress for myself.
• Make a berry smoothie for breakfast.
• Visit a friend and bring a gift of chocolate.
• Go to church and sing to God.
• Tidy up my desk.
• Make chocolate cupcakes with white icing.
• Learn a new knitting technique.
• Ride my bike outside.
• Prepare the garden for spring.
• Count my blessings.

Slowly...

'Upon A Snail'
By John Bunyan (1628-88)

She goes but softly, but she goeth sure,
She stumbles not, as stronger creatures do;
Her journey is shorter, so she may endure
Better than they which do much further go.

She makes no noise, but stilly seizeth on
The flower or herb appointed for her food;
That which she quietly doth feed upon,
While others range and glare, but find no good.

And though she doth but very softly go,
However slow her pace be, yet ’tis sure;
And certainly they that do travel so,
The prize which they do aim at they procure.

Although they seem not much to stir or go,
Who thirst for Christ, and who from wrath do flee;
Yet what they seek for quickly they come too,
Though it doth seem the furthest off to be.

One act of faith doth bring them to that flower
They so long for, that they may eat and live;
Which to attain is not in other’s power,
Though for it a king’s ransom they would give.

Then let none faint, nor be at all dismay’d,
That life by Christ do seek, they shall not fail
To have it; let them nothing be afraid;
The herb and flower are eaten by the snail.

Just pencils...

This sweet parable was sent to me so I thought I would share it with you. If anyone knows the author, please let me know. I would like to thank this wise person.

"A pencil maker told the pencil 5 important lessons just before putting it in the box:

1) Everything you do will always leave a mark.

2) You can always correct the mistakes you make.

3) What is important is what is inside of you.

4) In life, you will undergo painful sharpening, which will only make you better.

5) To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you.

We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed and, like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are is what's inside of you."

Star Pie...

When I was a little girl, I absolutely hated leftovers. However, my mother thought leftovers were wonderful. Now that I have grown up, I understand why. The best thing I have ever created using left overs is a "Star Pie".

Following a dinner of a 'Mediterranean' pot roast, which had been cooked in the slow cooker, there was some wonderful left over beef.

I rolled out a rectangle of puff pastry. Then on one side, I placed pieces of the roast beef, roasted garlic, sundried tomatoes, and some fresh spinach. Next, I folded the puff pastry in half and pinched the edges closed. After brushing with a bit of egg yolk, I placed cut out puff pastry stars on top and gave them a little brush with the egg. The 'star pie' was then cooked in a medium hot oven for about 30 minutes, or until browned.

The results were spectacular! Flaky crust, savoury beef, plenty of green spinach with the sophistication of the sundried tomatoes and roasted garlic…. dare I say it was heavenly?!

If you haven't tried puff pastry, be brave, roll it out and get creative!
This is one 'leftover' dish that has become a 'star' in my cooking repertoire!

Less is more...

The issue of ‘stuff’ has been discussed between my husband and myself quite a lot lately as we are dealing with some end of life issues with my mother who is very ill, but currently stabilized.

We recently visited her where she lives in a nursing home. She shares a room with another resident. Over the past 10 years in various assisted living arrangements, and then nursing homes, she (or rather we) have helped her pare down to the bare essentials. It is amazing that when it gets to the later stages of chronic illness, stuff has little relevance.

Currently, her possessions are the following:

* collection of family photos in frames set along the windowsill (5 in total)
* wall clock which chimes the time of day with a little ‘bird call’ sound
* painting of two brightly coloured parrots (she is legally blind in one eye; other eye was removed years ago)
* personal care items (lotion, toothpaste, comb, etc.) which fit into one drawer
* two drawers which hold her nightgowns
* 1 robe and 3 sweaters
* Kindle Fire (avid Scrabble freak)
* compact DVD player (like small laptop) for listening to audiobooks from local library
* bird feeder outside her window so she can watch the birds
* 1 pair of headphones

She owns no underwear, no shoes, no coat, and no other items. When the time comes, it will take no more than 2 boxes to clear out her room.

We enter the world with nothing and, when we depart, we need nothing.

It was a humbling visit. She is bed-ridden but can feed herself and play Scrabble. She seems happy and at peace. She has finally arrived at a place where less is more. She seems to only ask for two things: chocolate pudding and Oreos. A simple request and we indulge her. Her strength and dignity shine through and she makes a point to make us feel at ease with her smile and her words.

We all go through life growing, dreaming, accumulating, down-sizing, dying. It all just depends where on the “Wheel of Life” you are at any given moment.

Not a judgement, just an observation.