I BEGAN TO LIKE ALL THE SNOW!

WHY WOULD I SCOOP SNOW INTO EVERY POT, PAN, COOKER, CANNER, AND PAIL IN THE HOUSE ON A SUNNY SATURDAY AFTERNOON?

THEN BRING IT IN THE HOUSE AND WAIT FOR IT TO MELT OR COOK IT ON THE STOVE?

....BECAUSE WE CAME HOME SATURDAY AFTERNOON, TURNED ON THE FAUCET, AND GOT NO WATER! THE PUMP HAD QUIT--FOREVER. WEEKEND PRICES TO INSTALL A NEW PUMP WERE MORE THAN WE THOUGHT NECESSARY--WE DECIDED WITH ALL THE SNOW AND ACCESS TO GOOD, CLEAN PAILS AND FRESH WATER FROM CLINT'S WORKPLACE, THERE WAS NO REAL EMERGENCY! PLAYING PIONEERS FOR THE WEEKEND WAS KIND OF A FUN ADVENTURE KNOWING IT WOULD COME TO AN END WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW PUMP. NOT SURE HOW WE WOULD HAVE VIEWED IT HAD IT BEEN A PERMANENT PART OF LIFE. I ALSO BEGAN TO APPRECIATE ALL THE SNOW THAT WE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT ONLY DAYS EARLIER!

 

 A FAMILY USES MORE WATER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK--YOU REALIZE THIS ONCE IT IS GONE!

LIVING IN THE COUNTRY, I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THIS--WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT, THE PUMP WON'T RUN. BUT THIS TIME THE PUMP WENT OUT!

 

I LEARNED I CAN WASH MY REALLY LONG, THICK HAIR IN ABOUT 2-3QTS. OF WATER! YOU CAN ALSO LET THE DISHES GO FOR A FEW DAYS. HANDWASHING IS STILL ESSENTIAL, OF COURSE, BUT THANKFULLY THAT ONLY TAKES A LITTLE WATER.

 

WITH A PROPANE FILL, FOUR NEW TIRES (MUCH OVERDUE), AN UNEXPECTED FURNACE FIX, A HALF DAY'S LOST WAGES DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS, AND A NEW PUMP (ALSO AN UNEXPECTED EXPENDITURE), THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE WEEKS OUR FAMILY HAS HAD FOR YEARS! THANKFULLY, THE LORD IS OUR PROVIDER!

 

WE GOT ALONG FINE UNTIL MONDAY MORNING WHEN THE NEW PUMP WAS INSTALLED, BUT LIFE IS SO MUCH EASIER WITH RUNNING WATER--I AM THANKFUL TO GOD FOR AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF CLEAN RUNNING WATER! I HOPE YOU ARE TOO! IT'S A BLESSING WE TEND TO TAKE FOR GRANTED.

 

Blessings, Lori

ACQUIRING ANTIQUES

I went to another auction! There wasn't much there that I wanted, but I was thrilled to be the highest bidder on this great little antique knitting item, the "Big Knitting Spool Outfit." I love to save old spinning and knitting items and this one was so cute!

The box is in great shape and the little knitting spool is too! I remember playing with one like this that my Dad made for me. It knits "tubes" that I suppose you would use for potholders or something similar. Actually, knitted tubes like this make some of the best material for woven rugs! If I only had time to make them we'd find ourselves with one more rug option!

This unusual little teapot in perfect condition only cost me $5! I love Dutch regional costumes and so this will look great in my "European Corner" upstairs where I keep other Dutch items like Delftware and my print of "The Lacemaker," by Vermeer.

 

I got the knitting box and spool for $8 and they threw in a package of all sizes of crochet hooks, two boxes of pins, various elastic, lots of embroidery floss, an old pine needle basket, and an old hand sewer kit from the 70's--a punch sewing device with all the kit intact.

Just wanted to share my latest "finds" with you. Longing for the auctions of spring and summer where more treasures await! Blessings, Lori

WINTER PROJECTS TO SEND TO LITTLE GRANDDAUGHTERS

When I heard that my grandkids were into watching the Olympic figure skaters and then "skating" all around the house....I couldn't resist. This sweater was made for the oldest girl, Emma. Hopefully the way this winter has been going there will still be plenty of time to enjoy it! Maybe both girls will get to share it. That's the wonderful thing about heirloom children's clothes, they can be passed on and hold their charm for a long time. The pattern is from a "Botany" yarn book from 1950 that came into my possession only days before I learned about how much they enjoyed ice skating.

Here's a close-up of the skater design. I over-embroidered the skates with silver floss.

A button detail. Thought these great little buttons looked appropriately like....sparkling ice!!!! I sewed them on with more silver floss.

The grosgrain ribbon lining the front placket--a detail I had never attempted before. Do any of you baby-boomer-age ladies remember how all our little cardigans had this feature? Worked really well and fortified the placket for machine-worked buttonholes. Wow, was I ever scared to try that after all the work of the knitting! I didn't want to ruin it!

 Sorry this picture is sideways. This is a scarf for Sophie. It will match her coat well and she had been wanting one! I decided to apply crocheted flowers with button centers.

 

Hopefully the girls will love their new handmade items!

Blessings, LORI