Grand aspirations...but I did not finish a 12 Days/Ways of Christmas quilt for last night's meeting. I did gather my UFO quilt blocks that relate to the symbols...and did start the Mother & Child with wreaths quilt top (didn't stabilize stretchy tshirt first, so having wavy seam malfunctions).
During the next 12 days I will show you the blocks, and maybe a quilt top by the end. Good sewing goals can be motivating!
12 Ways of Christmas (I do not know if this is original from our Susquehanna Ward, or if the author is out there somewhere. I will research and give credit where due.)
Shelter-manger/stable
Remember-star
Inspire-snowflake
Submit-shepherds
Realize-candle
Instill-wreath
Speak-gift
Rescue-angel
Increase-wisemen
Serve-Joseph
Influence-Mary
Receive-Christ
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Happy Birthday to My Missionary Mom
We drove up to visit sister Luanna & family for the holiday! One of my favorite things is the cousin-face time. I pray these children remain friends their whole lives.
Thrift shopping near Pittsburgh: mother & child t-shirt, which immediately made me think of a central quilt motif. I am not sure how much of this I will get done for tonight's Relief Society meeting, the 12 Ways of Christmas. I will let you know tomorrow!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Spread Out Blessings
We are not all together this year for a photo...
I got a phone call from a member in Wyoming who met Elder Landbeck today. He wanted to let me know he is doing well. They were at a funeral for a stalwart member who had a tradition of throwing the biggest 24th of July Pioneer Day firework party in the state! His firework display and free icecream out at his ranch were legendary.
I was thankful Stewart was there to support the family, meet good people, share the Gospel, even if it means he is gone from us for awhile...
My sister, Deborah, has been blogging her 12 Days of Thanksgiving, a great idea! I am getting ready for the Relief Society meeting "12 WAYS of Christmas, making a quilt to illustrate my day of "Inspire" symbolized by a snowflake. Promise to post when completed.
I am thankful for the influence of good people. Thankful for family. Grateful for their love, and the blessing of loving them back.
I got a phone call from a member in Wyoming who met Elder Landbeck today. He wanted to let me know he is doing well. They were at a funeral for a stalwart member who had a tradition of throwing the biggest 24th of July Pioneer Day firework party in the state! His firework display and free icecream out at his ranch were legendary.
I was thankful Stewart was there to support the family, meet good people, share the Gospel, even if it means he is gone from us for awhile...
I am thankful for the influence of good people. Thankful for family. Grateful for their love, and the blessing of loving them back.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Crop That, Please
Sunday, November 20, 2011
For the Lady in Red!
She told us she used to go to the movies for 25 cents, twenty to get in, 5 cents for treats. Her favorites were the "Tarzan" films with Frank Merrill.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Wordsmithing & NOT Dingthrifting
We love words in this home! There are words painted on our dinning room table, our bedroom wall, other furniture...I told Suzanna and a car full of seminary girls on the way to school that finding a spouse who loves to read like I do was on my LIST, and how thankful I am that Brother Landbeck is a reader.
One of the sweetest things he does is bring me library books that he knows I will love. And lets me read them first (his steampunk version of Mistborn novels was a fun read)! John just checked out a 1007 page Brandon Sanderson book for me and got it for himself on cd for his commute. It is like a book-date! We can talk about it as we go.
I also love thrift store shopping. It is relaxing, satisfying. I spent from 9 am- 11:30 walking leisurely up and down the aisles of my favorite thrift store earlier this week, looking at everything, finding some great treasures. I make up my own rules, about how much I am willing to spend that trip, and I am ruthless about editing my cart, even after filling it up, putting things back if they aren't 50% off sale or meet more than one necessary criteria. It is hard to explain my process, but a morning of thrifting helps me see my priorities more clearly, identify what is important to me, what I can live without, what I need, even what I need to throw away in my life (and donate to the same thrift store). Thrifting is therapuetic.
So I was delighted to learn the word for this day.
I am subscribed to wordsmith. It comes as an email. Today's word:
spendthrift PRONUNCIATION: (SPEND-thrift)
MEANING: noun: A person who spends money wastefully. adjective: Wasteful with money.
ETYMOLOGY: A spendthrift is, literally, one who spends his wealth, from Middle English thrift (prosperity), from Old Norse thrifast (to thrive), from thrifa (to grasp). Earliest documented use: 1601.
NOTES: Spendthrift is the longest word whose phonetic and normal spellings are the same. Two colorful synonyms of this word are dingthrift and scattergood.
One of the sweetest things he does is bring me library books that he knows I will love. And lets me read them first (his steampunk version of Mistborn novels was a fun read)! John just checked out a 1007 page Brandon Sanderson book for me and got it for himself on cd for his commute. It is like a book-date! We can talk about it as we go.
I also love thrift store shopping. It is relaxing, satisfying. I spent from 9 am- 11:30 walking leisurely up and down the aisles of my favorite thrift store earlier this week, looking at everything, finding some great treasures. I make up my own rules, about how much I am willing to spend that trip, and I am ruthless about editing my cart, even after filling it up, putting things back if they aren't 50% off sale or meet more than one necessary criteria. It is hard to explain my process, but a morning of thrifting helps me see my priorities more clearly, identify what is important to me, what I can live without, what I need, even what I need to throw away in my life (and donate to the same thrift store). Thrifting is therapuetic.
So I was delighted to learn the word for this day.
I am subscribed to wordsmith. It comes as an email. Today's word:
spendthrift PRONUNCIATION: (SPEND-thrift)
MEANING: noun: A person who spends money wastefully. adjective: Wasteful with money.
ETYMOLOGY: A spendthrift is, literally, one who spends his wealth, from Middle English thrift (prosperity), from Old Norse thrifast (to thrive), from thrifa (to grasp). Earliest documented use: 1601.
NOTES: Spendthrift is the longest word whose phonetic and normal spellings are the same. Two colorful synonyms of this word are dingthrift and scattergood.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Concept Cooking
I like reading recipes & watching others cook. But what I really love, is experimenting. Downside to that is doing something spectacular, and then trying to remember all the ingredients that went into that unique, one-of-a-kind batch. Sometimes NEVER to be recreated. I've tried to be better at documenting successful meals.
If you understand the concept behind a recipe--or the necessary elements, you can play! It is a little like understanding the chemicals and necessary textures/flavors/binders/heat requirements. That is a lot of variety, if you change something in a recipe, you need to balance it. You put in too much flour, you need more liquid. Or it is too wet, you can make pancakes or add more dry ingredients to turn batter back into muffins or cookies. I am still learning. And I think my lack of real recipe cooking has intimidated my children a little. How do you teach them to cook this way? Encourage them to experiment, and talk about what works, and what doesn't...
So, granola day. The concept for granola is to mix grains with a little fat, sugar, and liquid to bind it and cook it. One lady I know uses egg whites as a binder. No fat. Which is a great idea. I've been adjusting each time, trying to find perfect ratio of oats to nuts to bran to wheat germ to butter (YES!) and sweetness.
I do like the taste of butter. And brown sugar makes everything taste better...
This batch, I used 3/4 jar of raspberry jam in the liquid/sugar/fat mixture. Tasty, but the sesame seeds I added are too overpowering. And I could have used more raspberry flavor, omit the maple flavor from the syrup...next time!
Raspberry, coconut, pecan granola, coming to you via package soon!
If you understand the concept behind a recipe--or the necessary elements, you can play! It is a little like understanding the chemicals and necessary textures/flavors/binders/heat requirements. That is a lot of variety, if you change something in a recipe, you need to balance it. You put in too much flour, you need more liquid. Or it is too wet, you can make pancakes or add more dry ingredients to turn batter back into muffins or cookies. I am still learning. And I think my lack of real recipe cooking has intimidated my children a little. How do you teach them to cook this way? Encourage them to experiment, and talk about what works, and what doesn't...
So, granola day. The concept for granola is to mix grains with a little fat, sugar, and liquid to bind it and cook it. One lady I know uses egg whites as a binder. No fat. Which is a great idea. I've been adjusting each time, trying to find perfect ratio of oats to nuts to bran to wheat germ to butter (YES!) and sweetness.
I do like the taste of butter. And brown sugar makes everything taste better...
This batch, I used 3/4 jar of raspberry jam in the liquid/sugar/fat mixture. Tasty, but the sesame seeds I added are too overpowering. And I could have used more raspberry flavor, omit the maple flavor from the syrup...next time!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Your Grandma Sandy Has a New Haircut, Same Job
Official City Council swearing in, after elections. My favorite part was the Pledge of Allegiance. I have confidence in good leaders, trying hard to do the best for the city. Sam's favorite part was the black forest cake afterwards! 
We were thanked specifically as a family for all our hard work campaigning for the mayor!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Changes, Little Things
In the great Babcock Woman Tradition, I did it myself. Then I needed help to fix it. Stabilize it. I really should have waited for the technical planning half of our marriage to help in the first place. It was on his list...and I got impatient. And hurt my back being stupidly independent.
John helped me rearrange them, so doors opened from the inside (I had them reversed, in my desperate search for wall studs in dense plaster). These were salvaged from the wall we took down last Christmas break between the kitchen and dinning room. A kitchen always needs more storage, right? I had to take down a couple of the clipboards, but it gave me space to put my favorite rolling pins!
And as I was decluttering, I found these purple bauble earrings. I vaguely remember Deb and I getting clip on earrings (from Mom one Christmas? Or Grandma Lucy?) and they were painful, but I kept these anyway, loved the color. We used them to play "Boss & Secretary." Which is funny to me now, working in an office...I looked at these painful clip ons and turned them into pierced earrings easily, couldn't figure out why I hadn't tried that years ago. 30+ year old costume jewelry is now wearable!
John helped me rearrange them, so doors opened from the inside (I had them reversed, in my desperate search for wall studs in dense plaster). These were salvaged from the wall we took down last Christmas break between the kitchen and dinning room. A kitchen always needs more storage, right? I had to take down a couple of the clipboards, but it gave me space to put my favorite rolling pins!
And as I was decluttering, I found these purple bauble earrings. I vaguely remember Deb and I getting clip on earrings (from Mom one Christmas? Or Grandma Lucy?) and they were painful, but I kept these anyway, loved the color. We used them to play "Boss & Secretary." Which is funny to me now, working in an office...I looked at these painful clip ons and turned them into pierced earrings easily, couldn't figure out why I hadn't tried that years ago. 30+ year old costume jewelry is now wearable!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
No Camera Trip
See the leaves. The PA farmland. The Amish students at recess. The buggies with left-turn signals and orange triangles. The Oreo cows. My crazy van-load order for lunch at Sonic. Happy students. Reverent students listening to a white-haired Mennonite lady bear her testimony of Christ. All for a trip to see a replica of the traveling Israelite Tabernacle-straight out of the Bible at:
The Mennonite Information Center
2209 Millstream Road • Lancaster, PA 17602-1494
Phone: (717) 299-0954 • Toll Free: (800) 858-8320 • Fax: (717) 290-1585
Email: info@mennoniteinfoctr.com
See my seminary blog for details. Wow.
The Mennonite Information Center
2209 Millstream Road • Lancaster, PA 17602-1494
Phone: (717) 299-0954 • Toll Free: (800) 858-8320 • Fax: (717) 290-1585
Email: info@mennoniteinfoctr.com
See my seminary blog for details. Wow.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Far Away & Missing & Still Close
My mom called me out of the blue-middle of the afternoon. Perfect time, because I was waiting to pick up Roxie. I had five minutes, and it was fun to catch up on details, hear my mom's excitement for their transfer to St. Thomas, feel her love and exuberance for the work she and Dad are doing to help others.
Our missionary son is doing well. Busy. Facing challenges and dealing with things. We get an email almost every week from him, short, brief messages that all is well. Sometimes photos, that we drool over for details, trying to see what his diciplined life is like.
We skyped with our college son. "Mom, I am cleaning my ears and clipping my fingernails, so you don't have to worry about me. I am fine."
"Are you washing your clothes?" I hesitatingly asked. There is always more on my list of well-being questions.
Max's words were reassuring, but mostly his happy SHAVED (=obeying BYU grooming standards) face made me feel better that he is so far away, out of my reach, beyond my touch, but doing okay without me hovering. He was wearing a suit & tie, looked handsome and ready for a haircut. He excitedly told us about his Sunday School president calling and roommate garbage towers. And even with Skype crashing a half a dozen times, he kept re-connecting and reassuring us he wanted to keep talking.
Our nearly-graduated-from-college daughter is more independent. Further away, in experience, financial stability, emotional needs. We don't get reports on her grooming, the way Max is quick to supply. Or roommates. Or love-life. Or health. Or photos from dances, dates, adventures, classes. Sometimes I facebook stalk and see what others have said, pictures they have taken, and save those photos in a file on my hardrive. Just to have some record of her life, like she is a super-star, and I am trying to follow like a desperate fan, wishing for her attention and regard, missing her so hard it hurts, hoping for a skype date?
WE SKYPED on Halloween, because she called and I told her I had painted my face green, and she had to see it!
How do you let go of adult children? How do you un-involve yourself emotionally and be "available" on demand-if needed, but non-pressuring, non-stressing, non-judgemental, non-involved?
Paraphrasing my mom's advice: pretend they aren't your children, and treat them as adults you care about, someone in your ward, neighborhood. Polite, interested, but let go of the pride and emotional investment.
My goal is to be a better long distant parent. Organize fun family events, keep inviting adult children to join us when they can, ease off the guilt & pressure. Smile. Hug more. Compliment them. (Don't ask them if they are cleaning their ears, or doing their laundry, or have any announcements or calendar plans...) Other suggestions, from you who have left home, what worked, what doesn't???
Our three children still at home: Roxie bird costume, Sam as a "geek" (he probably really does need glasses, so this isn't funny), and Suzu after orchestra concert last night, harping away beautifully!
Our missionary son is doing well. Busy. Facing challenges and dealing with things. We get an email almost every week from him, short, brief messages that all is well. Sometimes photos, that we drool over for details, trying to see what his diciplined life is like.
We skyped with our college son. "Mom, I am cleaning my ears and clipping my fingernails, so you don't have to worry about me. I am fine."
"Are you washing your clothes?" I hesitatingly asked. There is always more on my list of well-being questions.
Max's words were reassuring, but mostly his happy SHAVED (=obeying BYU grooming standards) face made me feel better that he is so far away, out of my reach, beyond my touch, but doing okay without me hovering. He was wearing a suit & tie, looked handsome and ready for a haircut. He excitedly told us about his Sunday School president calling and roommate garbage towers. And even with Skype crashing a half a dozen times, he kept re-connecting and reassuring us he wanted to keep talking.
Our nearly-graduated-from-college daughter is more independent. Further away, in experience, financial stability, emotional needs. We don't get reports on her grooming, the way Max is quick to supply. Or roommates. Or love-life. Or health. Or photos from dances, dates, adventures, classes. Sometimes I facebook stalk and see what others have said, pictures they have taken, and save those photos in a file on my hardrive. Just to have some record of her life, like she is a super-star, and I am trying to follow like a desperate fan, wishing for her attention and regard, missing her so hard it hurts, hoping for a skype date?
WE SKYPED on Halloween, because she called and I told her I had painted my face green, and she had to see it!
How do you let go of adult children? How do you un-involve yourself emotionally and be "available" on demand-if needed, but non-pressuring, non-stressing, non-judgemental, non-involved?
Paraphrasing my mom's advice: pretend they aren't your children, and treat them as adults you care about, someone in your ward, neighborhood. Polite, interested, but let go of the pride and emotional investment.
My goal is to be a better long distant parent. Organize fun family events, keep inviting adult children to join us when they can, ease off the guilt & pressure. Smile. Hug more. Compliment them. (Don't ask them if they are cleaning their ears, or doing their laundry, or have any announcements or calendar plans...) Other suggestions, from you who have left home, what worked, what doesn't???
Our three children still at home: Roxie bird costume, Sam as a "geek" (he probably really does need glasses, so this isn't funny), and Suzu after orchestra concert last night, harping away beautifully!
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