Grateful Prayer | Thankful Heart

Mother’s Day Menu and a Vintage Theme Table as we Remember Mom

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Mother's Day Menu and a Vintage Theme Table as we Remember Mom. Gathering many old rose pottery pieces and boopie glasses from our childhood, I created a vintage tablescape and a Mother's Day Menu any mom would enjoy.
Our moms are no longer with us but the memories are. And some of the items from those long ago days are still in our family. I am sharing this post as Mother’s Day approaches bringing thoughts of bygone years.  I love this quote. It brings back so many sweet memories for my husband and I as we remember our Mothers this Mother’s Day. Gathering many old rose pottery pieces and boopie glasses from our childhood, I created a vintage tablescape and a Mother’s Day Menu any mom would enjoy.

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Crochet Easter Eggs

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Sweet crochet Easter eggs are easy to make and lovely holiday decorations. Collection of FREE patterns, some vintage, to fill a basket with keepsakes to enjoy for generations. Tutorials include a chocolate diorama egg, an egg that opens for filling and then tied closed. Crochet Easter Eggs bring back so many memories. As time goes by we are apt to grow more appreciative of the instruction and teaching received from our parents when we were children. I remember the frustration and difficulty as my mom tried to teach me to hold a crochet needle correctly and to keep my stitch tension even. She was patient and she was very skilled.Continue Reading

Paint by Numbers

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Paint-by-number kits… do you remember them? Have you completed one?
This Playful Kittens piece was painted by my mom in 1954 and truly a piece of Americana.

The oil colors are still vibrant and bright.
I stood it behind both a gold frame and a black mat to see how it would look.
(Photo source Paint by Number Museum)  Here is the artist, Dan Robbins, sketch of Playful Kittens.

 

 There is an interest in collecting vintage paint by number (PBN) paintings and kits are still available and popular today.In 2001-2002, The Smithsonian American History Museum had an exhibit highlighting the paint-by-number fad in America beginning in the early 1950’s by engineer and owner of the Palmer Paint Co., Max S. Klein and designer, Dan Robbins. Though art critics denounced this craze, millions of people as well as celebrities were fond of these kits. The Eisenhower Presidential Library included pieces completed by Nelson Rockefeller and J. Edgar Hoover.

Following the death of Max Klein in 1993, his daughter, Jacquelyn Schiffman, donated the Palmer Paint Co. archives to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. The archival materials have been placed in the museum’s Archives Center where they have been designated collection #544, the Paint by Number Collection, and are available to both the public and museum staff for research and exhibition purposes.(source)

I gathered the photos for the collage above from the internet because they are paintings I remember both my mom and aunt completing and displaying in their homes.

This grainy photo of my sister and I posing for her prom shows PBN paintings in the background

Thinking it might be fun to paint one myself, I bought a kit.  And fun it was!  Not much artistic or creative ability needed but I found it a very relaxing and enjoyable activity.  Like coloring or doing a jigsaw puzzle. (Kits available today use acrylic rather than oil paint)

I looked forward to moments I was able to sit at the table and allow the thoughts and concerns of the day to disappear as I applied color and watched as the scene slowly came alive. Sometimes I would choose a different color or blend two colors together using the lines and directions as just a guide.

And, yes, it is framed and displayed on a wall in our home.
☺
In 2008, a private collector in Massachusetts assembled over 6,000 paint by number works dating back to the 1950s from eBay and other American collectors to create the Paint By Number Museum, the world’s largest online archive of paint by number works.
 
In 2011, The Museum of Modern Art in New York accepted four early designs of Paint by Number by Max Klein for its Department of Architecture and Design, donated by Jacquelyn Schiffman.(source)
Whether or not paint by number kits curtail an appreciation of art or the skill and talent of creating individual pieces, there remains an enthusiasm and joy in the hobby as well as a desire by many to collect completed paintings. Over the years, they have brought enjoyment to hobbyist and when completed, proudly hung in homes with a sense of accomplishment.
By the way… I have just ordered my second kit as I join millions of other Paint-by-number fans!

The Nursery

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Sleepovers and playtime, this bedroom has become what the grandkids call
The Nursery.
It is a mix of vintage, garage sale and whimsy.
A room where cousins sleep and little ones head to as soon as they arrive.

When Abbey outgrew the cradle by our bed, she moved to this room with both a door to the hallway and a door to the master bedroom.  The crib was later exchanged for a toddler bed and a giant Barney poster hung on the wall.
A crib remained for many years as I provided child care in my home and grandbabies came along. A few years ago, the crib was changed to a queen size bed.
 Now, it is where the bed from my parents vintage French Provincial bedroom set fits in best.
I can just imagine how happy it would make mommy knowing her great-grandchildren are snug and warm beneath the covers on her bed.
 This full size bed allows for a little extra play space while entertaining doll babies and monkeys.
 John’s Aunt Marie made the crochet lap blanket. It matches the Granny square pillow and crochet Rosie Wreath I had made.
 How it warms my heart that my grandchildren play at the table and chairs I received from my aunt when I was three years old!  The white chairs belonged to my now grown and married niece, Toni.  The blue kitchen set was found at a garage sale and the white shelf in the background was made by my childhood best friend’s father and given to me when I was a kid.
Colorful bows on this happy clowder of cats, done in pen and ink, continue the pops of color against a white background. 
Warm and cozy at night to help hesitant little ones feel secure at bedtime.
We will be watching two of our granddaughters for a week beginning February 1st.
Chloe (age 2 1/2) is “Super Excited”.
Cambrie (age 5) vacillates from  “I think I am going to like this” to “I need my mommy”.
Sure hoping all I have planned keeps them both happy and not too homesick.
How cute is this sign!  My sister gave it to me
🙂

Vintage French Provincial Bedroom Set

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My sister, Carol, just went to closing on a house she sold.
I lent a hand helping her pack.
We began in mid-November and through sorting and wrapping, taping and stacking, hauling and heaving, lugging and loading, stooping and stretching, sunshine and raindrops, lost keys and cell phones and frustrating inspections, there was much chatting and memories, stories and updates, giggles and laughter and sisterly love.

This vintage French Provincial bedroom set belong to our parents, purchased in the early 1960’s.  It went to Carol when Mommy passed several years ago and I got the new set mommy was then using.
 Carol doesn’t want to take this to her next home and though I wasn’t in need of a bedroom set, the sentimental value was too great to pass it up and now resides in our guest room.
 The chest on chest belonged to Daddy and how I remember, as a kid, snooping through his top drawer and seeing his neatly folded hankies, perfectly placed wallet, coins, keys, pens, deck of cards and trinkets stored there. 
I left the white iron bed that we had purchased and used until we received mommy’s new set. It is a queen-size and better suited for visitors than the full bed that is part of the set. I think it works with the other pieces.

Searching old photo albums for shots with the furniture in the background, I found these:
My 8th grade graduation
Cousin, Karen and I as flower girl and junior bridesmaid for Carol’s wedding
Daddy and his first grandchild, Chrissy (Carol’s oldest) at his organ
and
Carol ready for her senior prom
Carol, John and I looking a wee weary, took a selfie after a long, busy day, with only the steps to sit upon. Still happy together
(John may have been a just a tad grumpy being forced in a silly selfie photo, but he was a good sport)
and still finding fun in being together.
yes, sisters.  she is so kind, smart, poised, beautiful and generous and I love her to pieces
❤
Next time, I will show you where I put the bed to this set and then my dining room changes.
ta-ta for now!

St. Patrick’s Day Frozen Minty Mousse Pie & Giveaway

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NOTE: This giveaway has ended but please enjoy the recipe and see if you can find the lucky four-leaf clover.

It’s that time of year when green becomes the most popular color and little Leprechauns get excited about St. Patrick’s Day. Frozen Minty Mousse Pie in a chocolate graham cracker crust and layered with ice cream, chocolaty mousse and topped with whipped cream makes dessert magical!

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Sweet and Sour Sauce

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Kick up roasted pork and poultry with easy, 4-ingredient sweet and sour sauce. Serve this tasty condiment on the side to spoon over meat for lots of flavor.
There is something crazy good about the tantalizing combination of sweet and sour. It totally enhances meat, poultry and pork as well as vegetables. A little goes a long way as not to be overwhelming. Sweet and Sour Sauce is a super easy, very tasty, pungent sauce using just 4 ingredients.Continue Reading

Whirlwind

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As we get older, it seems we get busier and busier.  Our days have been filled with weddings, showers, graduations, parties, birthdays and get-togethers.  Nary a week goes by that we don’t have an opportunity to gather and celebrate life and milestones.
Our oldest grandson, Jared, graduated Thursday night from Middle School and is heading to high school in September
Jared with his parents, Erin and AJ
Abbey and Jared
Jared and Pop-Pop
Jared and Mom-Mom
Celebrating after graduation
this is how we got to see Jared’s graduation… in over-flow classrooms on tv with stink-o video and audio. Each student got just two tickets and everyone else filled classrooms to watch the ceremony 
Our daughter, Erin, also graduated this spring, with honors and a degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. She has already begun classes for her Master’s. A great accomplishment as she works a full-time job as a beautician, is a mom and cares for her home with AJ all the while helping friends and family.
Memorial Day we visited the cemetery where my parents are buried.  It was the first time we saw the new marker that included both their names. I felt a little sad but was blessed as I looked a few rows ahead and saw dear friends visiting their daughters grave. Their daughter grew up with our twins and tragically died at age 24 giving birth to her second child. We spent over an hour together on this beautiful day.
This is what happens when you swerve to miss hitting a bunny in the street.  Abbey had just left for work very early in the morning.  A couple minutes later she called to say she hit a tree.  The air bag inflated and she hurt her nose and arm but was okay.  Her car was totaled and sadly just two days prior she paid $500 in repairs.  Ouch! I am once again chauffeur in this one-car family driving John to work each morning so I can have the car.
This dear couple have been our friends for over 26 years!  We connected at my nephews college graduation party and ended up in so much laughter.  Only true friends can find great humor in the unusual topics such as…  cremation. Light-hearted conversation that led to funny stories and happy laughter.
John and Ray were college buddies.  Ray was a groomsmen in our wedding. Somehow we lost contact and got involved in the busyness of raising children and careers.  We re-connected via facebook last summer and became fast-friends again, like we never skipped a beat.  We met Jan for the first time last year and it was like we knew each other for years. 
These beautiful ladies… well they mean the world to me.  They bring love, smiles, encouragement, help, hugs and sweet friendship with every visit!  We have prayed together, studied together and walked many journeys together.  Our birthday lunch on Tuesday was made even more special because our Texas sister was up for a visit! 
Saturday we visited John’s Aunt Marie in Mays Landing.
We took her to lunch to celebrate her
95th Birthday!
She’s a stitch and always fun to be with!

Jamie invited us for lunch on Father’s Day. Chloe and her Pop-Pop chatted a bit.

Jared’s 15th Birthday fell on Father’s Day this year so last night we celebrated with dinner and ice-cream cake 🙂

We have been crazy busy doing yard work this spring but blossoms like this are a beautiful reward. Each year it returns I am reminded of the sweet person that gave it to me 🙂
And my constant companion that I love to pieces
♥

Think on These Things #13 ~ Mommy

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On a recent morning I was thinking of my mom and glanced at my bookshelf with a photo of the two of us taken the last time we saw each other.  Then I noticed on a nearby coffee table, a photo of her holding me as an infant.
A lifetime of years passed between these two photos.
A mom’s hug lasts long after she lets go.
Author Unknown
Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.
Author Unknown

While reading many posts from Kathleen’s (Cuisine Kathleen) Mother’s Day Challenge, I reluctantly decided to link up and share some things from my mom.  I didn’t expect it, but this is a hard Mother’s Day for me since it is the first one since Mommy’s passing in August.

My mom grew up in very humble circumstances being one of eleven children.  Her mother died at age 44 leaving many little ones that the older kids raised. (Mommy was third oldest).  There weren’t settings of china or crystal to pass down and these years were huge in developing Mommy’s character.

 As I looked about thinking of Mommy and the things I have received from her, it seemed fitting to gather in a room that is most representative of her.  So, I collected items that belonged to her for a Mother’s day brunch served on the bedroom set that belonged to her.

 Mommy wasn’t about fussy ~ elaborate, yes, but not flowery.
She knew quality and well constructed things.  Her dishes for years were her well-loved Hull Brown Drip glazed.  They were heavy and dark and I liked little about them.  I often wondered how she could hoist a stack of then to put into the cabinet.  In contrast, she loved milk glass and collected some Westmoreland and Fenton pieces.  The white cups were only for display because she much preferred her coffee and tea in a hearty mug.

Mommy loved old fashioned home-style cooking.  She didn’t much like making it herself but it warmed my heart always to see her enjoy meals I made for her and tell me I cooked just like her mom.
She never left home without her Sweet ‘n Low even though she never had an ounce of fat on her small frame.
I fill my world with flowers and while Mommy admired them, please give her a green plant.  Even better, an artificial green plant that she could dust regularly and wouldn’t die. 
She loved linens, doilies, rugs, place mats and well, mats of all sorts. (just ask any family member)
Her favorite colors were beige, ecru, bone, off-white and brown.  If she was feeling really daring, she might throw in a little burnt orange or peach.
She also liked containers.
She was a perfectionist in everything she did and she expected it from others. She noticed hard work and valued it. She was sentimental and cherished a handmade gift especially one from a grandchild.
Mommy was very organized and kept detailed journals with family history. Her home was filled with framed photos of those special to her.  Her photo albums were overflowing.
This is the bedroom set she said would be mine.  It isn’t the one she and Daddy used most of their life but was bought when they sold their lifetime home to move to a manageable apartment. 
Besides loving the style of this beautiful bedroom set, I think it really illustrates the personality of Mommy.
Though petite and small in stature, Mommy was strong and commanding.  She had a big personality with inner strength.  See those wrinkles in the Matelasse bedspread, they would not in exist Mommy’s world.  She had so many covers on her mattress and boxspring and layers of bedding that I wondered how she could breath or move once inside .
And her windows wouldn’t be covered with a simple a sheer panel.  Her windows were festooned with layer and layer of the most beautiful fabric draperies, most that she made herself.
The height, size, quality and ornate style of each of these pieces of furniture really echo the same traits found in Mommy.

She had a large presence and my heart is missing her.

And… looking with love from the generation before me to the generation after me…

my babies

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report – if there is any virtue and if there is any praise- think on these things. ~Philippians 4:8

~✿~
Opening Think on These Things early this week so I can link up with Kathleen’s Let’s Dish Mother’s Day Party
Has God impressed on your heart something special this week?
Was there a Scripture verse, a song, a quote, a poem or an encouraging word that came your way and caused you to pause.
I’d love for you to share.

Here’s how:
Please link directly to your post, NOT your blog.
In order to link, you will need to leave a link back in your post to this Think on These Things
or you can include theThink on These Things
button by copying and pasting the code below onto your post (while in html not compose)

With a Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart

Crochet Chocolate Diorama Easter Egg

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Peek inside this sweet crocheted chocolate diorama Easter egg decorated with faux frosting and embroidered scrolls. Cute pattern for holiday décor tablescapes or filling Easter baskets.Crochet Chocolate Diorama Easter Egg, is a crochet project my mom and I came up with during one of her visits when I was living in Ohio. We were several states away from one another and I was expecting my first child. By the time we were finished we had crocheted a basket full of sweet Easter decorations that I bring out and displayed each spring.

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