Hi everyone,
I had a full day (I bet you’re tired of hearing that) but I still have a few things to show you…
These are some beautiful Lilacs from my neighbors bushes. She brought a bouquet over and I love how very pretty this bouquet actually was when I put the flowers in a vase. I couldn’t decide if I liked them better on the buffet in the dining room….
…or on the window ledge in my kitchen.
So I just moved them around every so often! They smell divine!
The next thing that happened was I made a corn casserole to take to ??? Can you guess? Yes, it was to Bithar and her family. She asked me if I could visit… it had been a while and we got caught up on each others lives. I took some pictures of her newest little boy, Isaac. He just stared at me at first but I finally got a half-way smile from him in this shot… Bithar fed him some tiny spoonfuls of corn casserole and it turns out he LOVED it. That made her smile!
Two of the girls had just gotten home from school and they wanted in the picture… Grace is on the left and Blessing is on the right…
Grace started right away on her homework… I had to take a picture over her shoulder. She is REALLY smart for 6 years old.
I received a picture from Anne in New Zealand and decided to post a portion of her comment from yesterday to explain the picture. The picture won’t enlarge any… maybe Anne could send it again in a bigger size.
We have another long weekend here, Friday is ANZAC day which is, I think, like your Memorial Day, though ours is strictly for veterans. There will be dawn services all over the country and a very special one in Gallipoli in Turkey where our PM will be attending then rushing to the plane to get to Rome. One of the first classes I went to when I first joined the Patchwork guild was making a wall hanging of poppies. (Poppies here, as in Europe are a symbol for WWI). Visiting my sister not long after I found she was responsible for a group in her church making banners for special occasions. My church had no such tradition so I added the words ‘We will remember them’ and offered it to her. Remembrance (poppy) day in UK is November 11th so obviously they would put it up then but I asked if they would also put it up for ANZAC day as well which they always do. The day is especially important to NZ and Australia because is started the process of being an independent country instead of a colony. The odd thing is that the Gallipoli campaign was a complete failure, in fact the only successful part of the whole campaign was the retreat. We had a population of only about 1 million then and very few families didn’t lose at least one member. Every town and village had a War Memorial, nowadays they include all the wars NZ has been involved in, of course.
The morning is racing on so had better close
Have a great day everyone
ANZAC Day is tomorrow 25th April.
LEST WE FORGET
They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
…and one final thing in my day… I spent a while trying to decide on a dress fabric for Molly. I even looked online at 1940’s fabrics to see if that would help me narrow down my choices I had made. I spotted this fabric in my stash and it could ONLY be for Molly, so I chose it. I got it at an Estate sale, or someone sent it to me… I just can’t remember… was it you, Charlotte? I remember you sent me some fabrics once. Or it might have been Kathy. Anyway, I decided to see if I can turn this into something fun for Molly. It actually surprised me and is VERY VERY soft. It looks like an old stiff cotton, but it’s not. It was very nice to handle and wasn’t stiff so it will gather nicely.
I cut out the pieces, but that’s as far as I got… then I decided to show you how it looks “before” and then an “after” shot will hopefully be MUCH better!
When I was looking at 1940’s fabrics online, it said Navy blue was a top color back then, followed by yellow and red… I think this fabric fits the bill, colorwise!
Molly asked me, “Do I HAVE to model this with all these pins holding it together?”
I told her, “Yes, dear… you just wait until you see what I can do with that fabric!” (Let’s hope I can bring it to life!) *wink* *wink*
Well, I need to get to bed! It’s an “up early” kind of day for us! :o)
See you Friday,
Blessings, Jeanne
Your lilacs are gorgeous, Jeanne! They are my very most favorite flower, and the reason why we got married in May–the florist said he could only guarantee having lilacs for the altar bouquets in May! My lilacs are getting ready to bloom, but they’re not quite there yet. The oldest part of the bush broke off a few years ago under heavy snow, so it’s not quite as big as it used to be, but still lovely.
So nice to see pictures of Bithar and part of her family again. That little Isaac is a real cutie! And Grace and Blessing are darling little girls.
Anne, thanks for sending the picture of your poppies wall hanging–it’s lovely! I’m in the same boat you are–I will be 80 on my next birthday (January), and it simply amazes me that I am already going to be That Old!! As you said, I only feel about half that, until I decide to get up and walk, at which time my knee bothers me and reminds me that, yes, I really Am that old!
(In regard to your comment about ANZAC Day and our Memorial day, here our Memorial Day is to honor the military who have died, either in service or not, although in some areas of the country it’s to honor all dead. Veteran’s Day is to honor all those who have served and are still alive.)
That’s a cute print you’ve chosen for Molly’s dress, Jeanne, but no, I’m not the one who sent it to you. Perhaps it was from my friend Kathy in California? I know she sent you some lace and such a few years ago; not sure if she sent you any fabric or not.
Anyway, those are definitely Molly colors! My Molly has several r/w/b things, also, although really her favorite color is red, so she has some things that are primarily red!
My son and his friend were here for a couple of hours this morning, mowing and doing some yard work. I’m no gardener, and don’t even know how to work a lawn mower, so I always have to have someone else do the yard. I have two things in my yard that our picture-worthy, my lilac and my azalea bush. Both are getting ready to bloom, and it’s always a race between them, to see which will pop first! I know I’ve shared pictures of those in previous years, so I don’t think I’ll do that this year.
Has anyone seen the Ruby Red Dazzle? I really wasn’t going to get another doll, at least for a while but she is SO cute, and her accessories are to die for!! Sewing themed!!!
Oh, Jeanne, your lilacs are beautiful, and I can smell them here already! Ha, ha, not really, what I am smelling is my Yankee Candle “Lilac Blossoms” that I light each morning when I get up in the spring. To me, that means spring is here, and it is my favorite spring fragrance! I would love the “ real thing”, but my lilac bush died years ago, and I was never successful in growing another. However, I am so excited, because my azalea bush is popping out now with blooms, after 2 years of no blooms!
Oh my, how cute little Isaac is! He is really growing! His sisters are darling, and I’m sure a big help for Bithar. It is so nice to see them again!
Anne, I could see your picture very well, since I can enlarge just by spreading my fingers over the picture, thus enlarging it. What a beautiful scene that is! Our Memorial holiday is also strictly for veterans, but for those who have died. It’s a day to visit the graves of our veterans and decorate them with flowers and flags. It used to be called Decoration Day, for that reason. Thank you for letting us know more about life in New Zealand.
Now Molly! I’m not sure what you have decided to do with the hat, Jeanne, but the fabric is just adorable and so 40’s! Fruit decorations were the “thing”, especially for kitchens in the 40’s! Then adding gingham, well, yes, no other doll could wear that piece of material! I can’t wait to see what you do with it, and I’m sure Molly can’t either!
My prayers are with you today!🙏🏻
Yes, I received my Dazzle doll and I’m so glad I gave in and ordered her. The little furniture is so well made and the sewing machine is solid metal. I’ll take some better pictures without Japanese or Chinese backgrounds Those go better with my Ten Ping and her little friends who are the same size as Dazzle. Once again the quality of the dolls and accessories is excellent. I’m expecting Evelyn next week and hoping that will complete my collection! The fabric for Molly’s dress is sure 1950s style.
Bithar’s girls are beautiful and Isaac is such a cute little fellow.
Anne, your needlework is beautifully designed and I’m sure is exemplary in its execution! Regarding the remembrances, a great-great uncle of mine was present at the Battle of Balaklava during the Crimean War about which “The Charge of the Light Brigade” was written. Yes, we do remember.