Sunday Night Reflections

The piece I'm sharing with you tonight is one of my favorites. Sadly, I have no idea who the author is. It touches my spirit each time I read it and I hope that as we enter this gift giving time of year it will touch you in some special way as well.

Revel In The Gift

My great-aunt Emma used to get effervescent at every family gift-giving celebration. No matter the occasion, no matter the gift, she enjoyed every ribbon, every scrap of wrapping paper, every trinket we gave her. Once, my sister gave her an unidentifiable something-or-other concocted from a melange of safety pins. When my sister was unable to tell her what the thing was, Aunt Emma didn't mind in the least. In fact, she gushed all over my sister, opened one of the safety pins, and fastened the whole horrible mess to her lapel. Not only did she wear the whatever-it-was all day long, but she went around to all the other guests showing it off and inviting them to compliment my sister on her creative achievement. Some of my relatives thought my Aunt Emma was "touched." They were right. 
Aunt Emma, long dead now, was "touched" by God. She reveled in the receiving of gifts as she did in their giving. She was always in a state of wonder over what was given her, always overwhelmed by appreciation, always thoughtful enough to use-really use-all the gifts she'd been given. She simply and beautifully trusted in the generosity of the giver and in the inherent goodness of the gift.
I think that Jesus wants us all to be like great Aunt Emma. I think he wants us to revel in the gift of faith we have received from the divine Giver. Certainly our growing in understanding does not diminish the gift. What is important is that we accept the gift, use it well, and bring it with us-still shining-home to God.  

Sunday's Soup

Herbed Cauliflower Potato Soup

The recipe I'm sharing today was made last night. My husband sat down, took one taste of the soup and said, "Wow, this is great!" Score!! I was a little concerned as the ingredients are a bit different, but his comment was unsolicited and genuine, so that's a pretty good endorsement I think. The soup is packed full of wonderful nutrients that are wonderful for us especially as the temperatures begin to drop and people with colds become more prevelant.
The ingredients;

1 large onion
1 leek
3 pounds of first quality small white potatos
1 head of cauliflower
6 to 7 cups of water
2 to 3 large cubes of Knorr Vegetable Bouillon
3/4 cup of fresh dill and parsley combined
2 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of dijon mustard
2 teaspoons of liquid smoke
1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
2 to 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise, I use the mayo made from olive oil
salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste

Begin by chopping the onion and the leek. Heat oil in heavy bottom pan and add the onion and leek. Saute until tender. Break apart the cauliflower and chop the potatoes into chunks leaving skin on. Once onions are tender, add cauliflower and potatoes to the pot, along with the chopped garlic. Add 4 cups of water and 2 cubes of the

vegetable bouillon. You may use broth or stock instead of water and bouillon if you choose. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer approximately 20 minutes or until potatoes and cauliflower are tender.  

Once the vegetables are tender, I like to take a vegetable masher and mash down the vegetables. This is not necessary, just what I like to do. By mashing the vegetables at this point, I am able to see how much more water I will need.

Add the chopped herbs, liquid smoke, dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and vinegar. Use a hand held mixing wand to puree soup until smooth or blend in a blender or food processor. Add enough water (or broth) to bring soup to desired consistency. Add salt pepper and cayenne to taste. Simmer on a low flame for a half hour to combine flavors.

This soup freezes well and it is also a soup that is better the second day as the flavours have a chance to mingle and enhance the soup.

Enjoy!

Unique Wrapping for Sewists

This morning I took a few minutes to check out my pins on Pinterest and saw that Bunny had repinned

the felt necklace that I reposted yesterday as a gift idea. Thanks Bunny!! As I looked through her pins, I found this wonderful picture.

What sewist wouldn't want a present wrapped like this? And I love the vintage buttons clipped to the side. Just too cute. I can be such a child at times as I would rather have the wrapped present than whatever is inside. You know the old story, you give a child a wonderful present and they play with the box. I guess that's me!
I'm sure we all made paper flowers when we were children, but just in case you have forgotten, here's a video that will give you a quick refresher. The flower in the video is held together with a pipe cleaner, but a twist tie would work just as well.
The second video shows a more attractive and fluffy flower.





For more gift wrapping ideas, check out this blog,  http://heatherbullard.typepad.com/heather_bullard_collectio/2008/12/vintage-holiday-wrapping-ideas-part-two.html. And if you would like to see some other great little gift ideas check out Bunny's Gift board on Pinterest. You can find her board here.
Happy Wrapping!!

Giving

Today is the Thanksgiving holiday here in America. As I think about the word "thanksgiving," I'm a little overwhelmed with all the thoughts of what this holiday seems to kick off here in America. In an increasing attempt to be the first to grab our holiday dollars, stores are opening earlier and earlier. If I'm not mistaken, there are stores that are open now as I write this at 8:30 in the morning. Now, I am not 20, and I'm not 90 either, but I well remember what this holiday represented at one time. There was the coming together of family, the Thanksgiving Day Macy's Parade on television, food that was lovingly prepared, games in the yard later in the day. There was no thought of shopping whatsoever, all the stores were closed. If there was something you needed for your meal, you borrowed it from a neighbor. On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, we would head downtown for the traditional kick off of Christmas with the parade where Santa would make his first appearance at the end. Stores did not open early, people did not stand in line for ungodly amounts of time, nor did they run over each other as the doors opened. And yet, stores made money.

Thanksgiving, a two part word, the first part implies a thankful spirit. I have so very much to be thankful for, but today I want to focus more on the second part of the word, giving. I recently received a message from a woman asking for the slipper pattern. She told me that her funds are quite tight and yet she wants to give gifts. I've also heard from women who are getting together to make slippers for people who are bedridden as the slippers easily slip on and off and are not tight against their legs. There was a home ec teacher who wanted the pattern as a community service project for her class. I'm so touched. 

So in the spirit of giving, I thought I would revisit some of the items that I have posted that make lovely presents, or wonderful decorations and cost very little to make. 

First up is the Pointsettia Napkin Ring that I posted last year. I have sent out so many patterns for this little napkin ring. If you would like the pattern, just email me at sewbussted@yahoo.com and I'll get it out to you as soon as possible. A lovely little present for a friend would be to make a set and include the pattern. Just an idea!!

Many of you have seen the slipper pattern I posted a few months ago. If I had a dollar for all of the patterns I have sent out...I would have a lot of dollars!! But money can never replace all the lovely people who have floated through my life. And even more, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity and honor to hear your stories. Thank you. If anyone would like the slipper pattern, once again, just email me at sewbussted@yahoo.com and I will be more than happy to send it out.

  

Last year I posted this Christmas ornament. It's basically a quilt on a styrofoam ball. Even better, there is no stitching, just ModPodge!! Many of you make clothes for your children. What a wonderful little memory piece it would be to use scraps from the items you have made for them. You can find the instructions here.

This is a funky little item I made for Fabulous Free Pattern Friday a year ago. The necklace is made from strips of felt, super easy to do and it doesn't take forever to make. You can see the instructions for the necklace here.

I hope that maybe one of these ideas will help to make your holiday season a little less stressful.

I'm off for a hike in the woods with my dogs!

Have a wonderful day!

Rhonda

Permission To Dress

True beauty comes to us as we become comfortable with who we are. Some years ago I realized that the most beautiful women I knew were all quite advanced in years. Youth is pretty, but life and the wisdom it can bring gives us beauty. 
One of the most beautiful women I know sent me the video I've attached to this post. Each one of the ladies who are showcased here have discovered their true beauty.



Some of my favorite lines;

"I'm not ready for a convent, so I can wear leopard glasses."

"Young women, you're going to be an old woman some day, don't worry about it. Every era builds character."

"I dress up for the theatre that is my life."

The store clerk will say, "Everyone is wearing this." I say, "then put it down and don't show it to me."

"It's fun to dress up, it's an exercise in creativity."

"There is no substitue for life experience."

I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things since my little sick spell last week. I'll be back tomorrow with The Wednesday Showcase and another post on what I'm working on.
Don't let those fabulous clothes you make hang in the closet ladies.....WEAR THEM!!!!!

Monday Morning Inspiration

Last week I posted one of the two Originator catalogues that I have. This one is from August of 1950 and it is quite large. There are over 60 images here to look through, and there are many wonderful details and ideas. Go grab a cup of coffee as there are so many images that you may be here for a while, or you may want to come back at another time to take another look.

Enjoy!

I'll be back with more Modes Royale next week.
Happy Monday Everyone!