May Day!!!!

 

Last year in March I got out the umbrellas I had been collecting to turn into sunbrellas.  I gave them a good washing to get them ready for transformation, but it wasn't until recently that I got around to transforming one.  I was inspired by a Holly Hobby candy jar (below) and by May Day. 

 

Valorie and I have been exchanging May Baskets for 20 years I think.  She loves Holly Hobby, and she is very sensitive to the sun so a parasole is something she really needs.  On an old umbrealla I painted Forget-me-nots and a design at the top, sewed on trim, sewed on flower sequins and beads, I wood burned a new nob for the end (with her name on it and a For-get-me-not), filled the candy jar with little cookies cut in the shapes of Forget-me-nots and umbrellas, and in the basket I put in camomile tea, and Forget-me-not seeds.

I haven't a lot of expierience painting on fabric.  I'm not feeling really confident about it . . . oh well.

I hope she likes it all.  I had a fun putting it together. 

I think we passed each other on the road.  It's funny.  I imagined us creeping around the neighborhood bumping into each other, head down, like we don't know each other, "Excuse me."  "Pardon me."  Hee Hee so fun!

When I got home there was a basket on my porch.

Champion

Jeff finally got his Adrian College MIAA Football Conference Championship ring.  It is sweet.  I am so happy for him! 

The Big Pink Lady

Can you believe how big this Pink Lady apple is?  In recent months some of the Pink Lady apples I had been getting were "okay," but this one was DE-Lish.  Eat your apples! 

Also, I am suggesting you try a Kiku apple which has a hint of fragrant apple blossom flavor.

Speeding Through Life

April kept me busy and May looks to be even busier. 

For Arianna's birthday I made her a scrap/photo album.  I wanted to give her something special that she would like always.  The interior pages have Hello Kitty stickers, and little thought bubble captions I wrote.  On the fabric cover I painted a picture of her from when she was one.  When Jacob told her I painted it she said, "OoooooH!"  She was impressed and surprised by my ability.  It makes me happy because I made the book in one day. 

I know it is a common complaint in our culture that time seems to be "rushing by."  I always feel a constant pressure to accomplish more than I have time for.  I do what I can, but I think a lot about not having the time fully develop my gifts/abilities.  There are many areas in which I have deficiencies that I know I could improve given that space and time. 

I have been crying this song "I need time and space"  since childhood.  I think this is why I love reading about people who "make the best of   IN their situation."  I am trying to do my best IN this mess called my life, but I never satisfy others or myself with my effort. 

My process:  Curiosity - enthusiasm - self-doubt - volition - effort - satisfaction mingled with doubt - doubt - resignation - joy - validation seeking - validation seeking - resignation - contentment -

Entwined is: anxiety - frustration - prayer - talking myself into focusing - planning - joy - doubt - prayer -  talking myself through my doubts - trusting God - looking for and listening for God - calming - volition . . .

I am working on improving this process even though in many ways it works.  I want to do better, but I want to be less critical of myself, too.  My many heart breaks and disappointments fuel my criticism and my willingnes to try.  

Life is full of contradictions and paradoxes. 

Love fuels me too.  I want to have more love fueling me.  It's a cleaner burning energy.

Gingerbread Rabbit Part 2

The book makes me laugh out loud.  The rabbit has raisin eyes, almond nose, and a cherry mouth.  In the story the gingerbread rabbit sees his reflection in a window and says, "Why, I'm beautiful!"  "How round my mouth is, and how crinkly my eyes are, and what a slender delicate nose I have.  You've got to admit it would be a terrible thing to eat a nose like that."

In case you didn't know, I have the best gingerbread recipe.  It took me years to find and perfect it.  Now it is my mission to rid the world of terrible gingerbread cookies. 

Heidi's Supreme Gingerbread

1/2 c. shortening

2 1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. molasses (I like the light)

1 egg

1 Tablespoon vinegar (I like apple cider)

1 t. baking powder (I use Argo aluminum free)

1 t. ground ginger

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. ground cinnamon

1/2 t. ground cloves

Beat shortening 30 seconds then add half the flour and remaining ingredients.  After well combined add remaining flour.  Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill three hours. 

Divide dough in half and roll out on floured surface to 1/8 - 1/4 thickness. Cut with cutters and place on ungreased Airbake cookie sheet one inch apart.  Mind the distance between cookies as they puff up considerably. 

Bake in oven pre-heated to 375 degrees for 10 minutes.  Cool on sheet for one minute then cool remainder of time on rack.  Decorate. 

I rarely frost these cookies.  Use powdered sugar, butter and milk or other flavoring.  I have used Kahlua or vanilla.  For these rabbits I used lemon juice which was perfect. 

Gingerbread Rabbit

HA!  I couldn't believe it when I saw it!  For sometime I had been thinking that I would give gingerbread rabbits to the grand kids for Easter, and then I saw The Gingerbread Rabbit at the used book store.  I was a little shocked, but knew instantly that it was to be mine. 

I am going to coat the cookies with lemon frosting to give brightness to the flavors. 

I can't wait to read the story to the grand kids.  There are parts that make me laugh out loud.

Snow Drops

I am just in love with snow drops.  In early spring I like to take a walk past a nearby house to see their lawn filled with naturalized snow drops.  I have been a little envious and have been thinking about how I wish I had some, then . . . I noticed the other day, in front of the neighbor's house a little clump of snow drops. 

Birthday Posies

Kadie gave me beautiful flowers for my birthday. 

The tulips kept growing and growing.