Wasn't it pleasant, O brother mine,
In those old days of the lost sunshine
Of youth---when the Saturday's chores were through,
And the `Sunday's wood' in the kitchen, too,
And we went visiting, `me and you',
Out to old Aunt Mary's?
-James Whitcomb Riley
No Occupation
She rises at the break of day, and
through her tasks she races. She cooks
the meal as best she may and scrubs the children's faces;
Schoolbooks, lunches, ribbons, too. All need Consideration,
And yet the census man insists She has "no occupation"
When breakfast dishes are all done, She bakes a pudding , maybe;
She cleans the rooms up one by one, with one eye watching baby;
The mending pile she then attacks by way of variation,
and yet the census man insists She has "no occupation"
She irons for a little while, then presses pants for Daddy;
She welcomes with a cherry smile returning las and laddie;
A hearty dinner next she cooks (no time for relaxation)
and yet the census man insists She has "no occupation"
For lessons that the children learn, the evening scarce is ample;
to "Mother Dear" they always turn for help with each example;
In grammar and geography she finds her relaxation,
And yet the census man insists "She has no Occupation".
-Elsie Duncan Yale
Words cannot tell what this old heart would say of her,
Mother - the sweetest and fairest of all. Edgar A. Guest
Happy Mother's Day!
I want you to see this gorgeous display by Melissa of Nona Louise Sewing & Embroidery.
Melissa not only has a fabulous eye for design, but she is a very gifted seamstress as well.
She now carries Sweet Harvest Homestead Soap at her shop, and I am proud to be associated with such a talented lady!
If you want to see all of Melissa's beautiful offerings, be sure to visit The Depot at Gibson Mill, located on McGill Street in the historic area of Concord, NC.
We went to a Friends of the Library book sale a few weeks ago and came home with about 75 books, all for less than a dollar each! Love those book sales!
I bought an old cookbook entitled The Thrifty Cook by the editors of Farm Journal. It is full of so many good recipes and tips on how to stretch your food budget!
I was happy to discover that they put out many more cookbooks between the 1940's through the early 1980's. I had to have more so I went to Half.com and found 8 of them. I am on some sort of Farm Journal Cookbook, kick!
This is one of the many recipes that I have made so far.
It is Butterscotch Pudding and, Honey, let me tell you, it is GOOOOD!
Have you ever made pudding from scratch? Once you start making it, you won't buy the stuff in the box again.
The recipe follows.....
1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cup boiling water
4 TBS cornstarch
3 TBS flour
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
4 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Brown butter in heavy saucepan over low heat. Stir in brown sugar and boiling water. Bring to a boil; boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Combine cornstarch, flour and salt, gradually stir in milk; mix until smooth. Stir this into brown sugar mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir a little of the hot mixture into the egg yolks; blend well. Gradually stir in all of the egg yolk mixture into cooked custard; blend well. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Cool well.
I like to eat mine slightly warm but the rest of my family likes it after it has sat in the refrigerator for several hours and chilled.
I picked up this pattern many years ago at an estate sale. It is from 1954, the same year my Sweet Mama was born.
After seeing my post about the Chenille Horse that I made for my daughter, a friend of mine asked if I could make one for her niece.
This is what I came up with. I think I am starting to like these!
These were made several years ago when my daughter was younger. She loved the old poem by Eugene Field called The Duel so I made her a Gingham Dog and Calico Cat.
THE DUEL
The gingham dog and the
calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'T was half-past twelve and
(what do you think!)
Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch
clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was
going to be a terrible spat.
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told
to me by the Chinese plate!)
The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!"
And
the calico cat replied "mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With
bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the
chimney-place
Up with its hands before its face
For it always dreaded a
family row!
(Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock
declares is true!)
The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed,
"Oh, dear! What shall we do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico
cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and
claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw-
And, oh! How the gingham and
calico flew!
(Don't fancy I exaggerate-
I got my news from the Chinese
plate!)
Next morning, where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog
or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair
away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: They ate each other
up!
Now what do you really think of that!
(The old Dutch clock it told me
so,
And that is how I came to know.)
Now, if I can just keep the Japanese Beetles off of them this year!
Speaking of Spring, I found a poem about this splendid season by one of my favorite poets, James Whitcomb Riley.
I catch my breath as children do
In woodland swings when life is new
And all the blood is warm as wine
And tingles with a tang divine
My soul soars up the atmosphere
And sings aloud where God can hear,
And all my being leans intent
To mark His smiling wonderment.
O gracious dream, and gracious time,
And gracious theme and gracious rhyme-
When buds of Spring begin to blow
In blossoms that we used to know
And lure us back along the ways
Of time's all-golden yesterdays!
-James Whitcomb Riley
Strawberry Season is here and we have buckets of them!
I will be teaching a Jam Making class at the Ace Hardware in Locust, NC.
Saturday, May 4th at 10:00 a.m. Come on out if you can and see how to make your very own Jewels in a Jar!
Ooooh Wee! These are brand new and they smell so good!
Made with pure essential oils, these soaps are sure to delight your skin and your senses.
Texas Cedarwood, Sweet Orange, Tea Tree & Peppermint, Lavender and Rosemary.
These will be ready to ship on May 6th!
We had a bridging ceremony at scouts last week. We also said good bye to our old location and to the pastor who so graciously let us hold our meetings at his church for so many years.
This cake was made in honor of all of the boys bridging over from cub to official Boy Scout and for Father Rich.
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