A Gaggle of Holiday Dresses

During our holiday luncheon at Aunt Ada's house -- she brought out her old scrapbooks and photo albums.

It was fun to look back and see our childhood in these old photos. My mother always sewed look-alike dresses for me and my sisters for Easter AND Christmas. There were five girls in my family (and one boy) -- so this was a big job. The style at the time was huge, gathered skirts and puffy sleeves...so that meant hours and hours of sewing.  Mom sewed late into the night, long after all of us were in bed -- only barely getting the dresses done in time for Sunday church.

On this day, at Aunt Ada's lunch -- I learned that my Mom also sewed lookalike dresses for my cousins. WHA?? Uncle Wayne and Aunt Ada had five girls, too. Growing up, we were very close to these cousins, and loved spending time with them. I am sure that, as a child, I knew my Mom was sewing their dresses as well as ours -- didn't I?

But, like Mom's Sunday fried chicken dinner, I never paid much attention. It just magically appeared every Sunday. It was only when I looked at these pictures, 50 years later -- that all those holiday dresses really registered with me....how much fabric it took to make five, six or maybe ten holiday dresses for two families of girls!!

I've seen these pictures before, but never turned them over to see what was written on the back...

We were trying to figure out what year this was, or where it was taken, and Aunt Ada said, "Maybe I wrote something on the back..."

And there it was.."Joyce made these dresses".

I never realized that during those long late nights, when Mom was sewing dresses for me and my sisters -- she was also sewing dresses for our cousins!! CRAZY, RIGHT?

Look-alike blue dresses. I think the fabric was a fine cotton batiste, with gathered skirts and puffy sleeves. Evie, Jackie and Linda. Please note the lunchboxes!! (DON'T WE WISH WE STILL HAD THOSE, GIRLS??) And the hair-dos required a perm AND sleeping overnight in bobby pin curls! This was a high-maintenance childhood...

Even though they lived in this house for many years, it was always (and still is) referred to as the Baxter House. Then or now -- I have no idea who the Baxter's were...

Jackie, Evie and Linda?

Rita, Ronda and Debbie?

Mom sewed matching corduroy robes for Jackie, Billie, Linda and Evie...

As we sat there, that afternoon, paging through the scrapbooks, and looking at what was written on the back of the pictures...once again, I'm struck by the fact that less is more.

And I am seriously wondering what pictures my grandchildren will actually have to reference their childhood? Because I'm guessing in 50 years, nobody will be able to make this old laptop work....so all of this will be lost forever...right??

Let's Talk Books...

Winter is a good time to read books. Well, actually, there is no BAD time to read books...for me, books are a lot like my television viewing.  It's all over the board...it happens every day....I love it...some are inspirational and life changing.  And -- every now and then -- I go to the end, only to realize I completely wasted my time...

This is what I've been reading lately...

If I haven't mentioned John Sanford -- let me say it now -- HE IS TERRIFIC.  His stories take place in the midwest...which I love!  And his books are roller coaster rides.  If you like Lee Child, Clive Cussler, Ken Follett or David Balducci -- you will love John Sanford.  And his competent, funny, kind-hearted hero, Lucas Davenport.

In this book, his step daughter, Lettie, plays a major role -- and I was ready for that to happen.  But this book had a little too much creepy violence, and I didn't think it was his best...

This is a CD book I'm listening to in my car. I have long been a fan of George Carlin...but that guy made some really bad choices. And, at the end of the day, I thought he got very full of himself. And maybe that's the price people pay for success. It made me think...and that was always his real talent.

Which brings me to this -- Personal History, the autobiography of Katharine Graham, the long time publisher of the Washington Post. Fascinating, beautifully written story of a real woman who was born to great wealth and privilege, but money does NOT buy happiness.  Through circumstance, she had to deal with her husband's mental illness, then take over the family business. And if anybody had the RIGHT to a big head or an inflated ego, it surely would have been Katharine Graham.  But she remained humble and centered...

Personal History was the best non-fiction book I've read in many years. But, weighing in at 600+ pages, it took me WEEKS AND WEEKS to finish reading it.  My library will only allow you to renew a book twice, so for the third time, I had to have my cousin put it on her library card.

Maybe it took me so long to read because it was the holidays, and I only had small bits of time here and there.  But I never once thought about quitting...every day, I couldn't wait to pick it up and see what my new best friend, Kay Graham, was doing...

She lived during such an interesting time, and the wealth and power of her father, and then her husband changed the course of history.  It was compelling to read about how this woman came into her own...especially after her husband's suicide.  For the next 30 years, as owner and Publisher of the Washington Post, she WAS the only woman in the board room.  Literally.   In both Washington and New York City, she dealt with situations that no woman had ever encountered.  Before or since.

Katharine's friends were the most important people of our time -- President Kennedy,  Adlai Stevenson, President Johnson, Truman Capote,  Warren Buffet.  The Washington Post reported on the events that shaped history -- JFK's election, Civil Rights, the assassination.  And, in the case of the Watergate scandal -- the Post stood alone, against huge pressure and even retribution from the Nixon administration. 

I cannot remember ever reading a book that taught me so much about the world I live in. 

Katharine Graham is, herself, a wonderful writer.  But she tells her own story in a very critical voice. She was a full-time mother of four when her husband committed suicide.  She had no choice but to go to work, and she felt ill-prepared for the job she was forced to do.  She had no clue how to run a major newspaper, she encountered bias and hostility from her own employees...and she never believed she was the best person for the job.   She was always afraid she would disappoint people.  Her parents, her husband, her children, her employees, her stockholders...

But she was so genuine, so well-intentioned and hard-working -- I cannot imagine anybody who ever met with, worked with or loved Katherine Graham felt anything but admiration and respect. 

A=M=A=Z=I=N=G

Warren's Train Vest

Warren is COMPLETELY IN LOVE WITH TRAINS. All things trains. Real trains barrel through his home town four times a day, and when he hears the train whistle, he runs to the door, as though the engineer is coming to get him.

So, when I saw this Christmas train vest -- I HAD TO BUY IT. Even though it was a size 6 months...and he wears a size 3 now.

Is that the cutest little Christmas train you've ever seen!!

It was too short (add blue velour) and way too tight (red velour side inserts)

Adding the red side inserts also made the armholes bigger.

This is the only picture I have of Warren wearing the vest...

Warren doesn't look that excited -- but HE LOVED IT...

Aunt Ada's New Hobby

My 80+ year old Aunt Ada lives in her own home, and stays busy. Of course, there is always a lot of housework -- WHICH SHE IS VERY GOOD AT.  She prides herself on her immaculate house.  She enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles, especially in the winter.

Like everybody else, she enjoys company.  Recently, she invited the TMBC for a Christmas luncheon -- and her whole house was decked out.

We learned that Linda recently gave her Mom a life-changing gift...

AN ADULT COLORING BOOK!!

The subject of this particular coloring book is Art Deco Fashions.

Aunt Ada had already done many pages...

She was experimenting with markers vs. crayons...

She was loving the variations of colors...

Clearly, the challenge went way beyond staying in the lines...

It was an impressive body of work...

Apparently -- Adult Coloring Books is a big thing. A "Movement" even. AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS HAPPENING. There are hundreds of groups on Facebook!! And amongst my Christmas letters this year, I had TWO friends who informed me that this is their new interest and/or hobby! One friend, Betsy -- is having coloring book parties at her house!! (she used to be into transcendental meditation)

Then, OF COURSE I see that Laura Mendoza is already a fan.  That girl is ALWAYS ON THE CUTTING EDGE, EH?  (OR, in this case -- the coloring edge!)

Grandma Dodds' Musty Quilt...

So, Deena's three children (Chad, Toby and Kelcy) bought Grandma Dodds' beautiful hand-appliqued quilt to give to her for her Christmas Day birthday.  Wanting this wonderful gift to be perfect -- Brenda (Toby's wife) texted me, "should we wash this bedspread?"

I texted back, "NO, NO, HELL TO THE NO."....

In 1996, when I tried to buy this quilt at Aunt Rozella's auction, I knew it had been folded and stored in a cedar chest since 1972 (the year Grandma died). My Aunt never used it...it was just packed away. Such a shame...

And, the woman who bought it at that auction did the same thing. She packed it away for another 20 years.

My best guess is that this beautiful QUILT folded and packed away since the 1940's.  So, it really did need to be freshened up and aired out.

So, Brenda gave me the quilt -- and I did this...

First of all -- I asked Ross to help me do a complete TWO PERSON SHAKE. We stood outside and held each corner of the quilt and went up and down, up and down....repeatedly. Flipping it back and forth, and every which way...

If you don't have another person to help you do the shake -- you could open the quilt on your bed, and do a thorough vacuuming. (Put a nylon hose over the end of your vacuum tool to prevent snagging...)

But NOTHING WILL HELP THIS QUILT MORE than a good outside airing and some sunshine.

First, I made a hammock for the quilt -- using a flat sheet.

At this point, I used clothespins to position the quilt. I wanted the air to flow above AND below the quilt. But I didn't want to leave the pins on the quilt for any length of time...

Of course, the biggest problem would be if a bird pooped on the quilt when it was hanging on the lines...

Which is why the second, TOP SHEET is so important. Also, now I can position the pins so that they are not directly on the quilt.

Once the quilt sandwich was in place, I let the winter sun do it's job...

I LOVE MY CLOTHESLINES..!!

Because the winter days are very short, I put the quilt out on the line for three days in a row.

Also, there is a lot of moisture in the cold air -- so I did not fold or roll the quilt when I brought it inside at night.  I made sure it was completely open...

My 2015 Epiphany...

This is about a moment of epiphany.

In thinking about why I don't even consider New Year's Resolutions, I realized I like my life.  There isn't really much I would change...

Is that okay?  Am I normal?  Shouldn't I be striving to make improvements?  Have some big, lofty goals?  Surely my life would be better if I was thinner?  Doesn't everybody want more money or a bigger house?  

What's wrong with me??  Am I lazy?

Maybe...but, the reality is this.  I am content.  I like my life. 

As a matter of fact, one of the best things about me is that I am easily entertained.  Really.  The older I get -- the more I recognize what a gift this is...

Obviously,  I love some of the modern stuff -- like spending time on the computer, Pinterest -- writing this blog. 

You know how much I enjoy watching television.   I go way beyond the normal network shows (Grey's Anatomy, Blacklist, The Voice, DWTS)...I love cooking shows  (Pioneer Woman, Farmhouse Rules, Barefoot Contessa).  I can watch HGTV for hours -- Fixer Upper, House Hunters, Love It or List It....

And, hey -- there's always BRAVO!!  Million Dollar Listing, Top Chef, The entire Real Housewives franchise, Vanderpump Rules.  (Andy Cohen should run for President.) 

I don't have to be planning a trip to Europe to have a good time.  I have always enjoyed simple things.... reading books, (or listening to books), thrift store shopping, sewing.  I usually have two or three books going at one time, as well as five or six projects (usually gifts for the kids).

But the thing that surprises me is how much I actually enjoy doing the very ordinary jobs in life...dare I say it?...household chores.  Like doing laundry and cooking.

Honestly -- how many blog posts have I written about laundry and cooking?

So, to kick off 2016, I am going to share with you some of my favorite Homemaker Inspirations...both old and new...

My first blog about the joy of housekeeping will be on Monday...

2016 Governing Values

There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who MAKE New Year's Resolutions -- and those who DON'T.

I fall into the latter group.  For one thing, resolutions seem to be about wishing for change...and setting myself up for failure....

Maybe I'm lazy.  Or smug.

Because I like my life.

For whatever reason -- you won't hear any New Year's Resolutions from me.

BUT, I would like to share my Governing Values. THIS is a concept I completely embrace.

In 1996, my friend Val introduced me to the Franklin Planner. Remember that workshop?  It was life-altering for me.  

That was a very busy time in my life, trying to run a business with two boys still living at home.  There were many days (and weeks, and months) when I felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  SO MUCH WORK, SO MANY OBLIGATIONS...and I always felt guilty.  If I was home, I wished I was at work, and vice versa...

The KEY to my life was learning how to prioritize, and focus my energy on doing the things that REALLY MATTERED.  This concept changed my life. 

The road-map for this change was to establish my own, personal "Governing Values." 

For 20 years, this list has guided me.  And, with only minor changes, it still helps me.  Every day. 

1. I love my family and I spend time with them.  I will show John he comes first, not last...
2. I am kind.  Every single day, I will do at least one unheralded good deed.
3. I have a positive attitude.  I try to see the upside in every situation...
4. I am honest and direct.  I will be scrupulous in my dealings with people.
5. I am enthusiastic.  No matter what I’m involved in, I will bring 100% of my energy.
6. I enjoy a good sense of humor – both mine and other people’s.  I see the humor in every situation.
7. I treasure my friends.  Each day, I will contact one friend or do one thing to enhance a relationship with somebody I care about.
8. I try to see the other person’s point of view.  If I do not agree, I will be a good listener.  Nobody ever learned anything by talking.
9. I am generous.  I give what I can, when I can, expecting nothing in return, and never keeping track.
10. I am a writer.  I write every day.

***********

So -- here's your challenge for 2016.  Every value starts with the word "I". 

The first part is the Governing Value, and the second sentence is what you will actually DO to live that value.

Really -- it ain't that easy.  Limit yourself to 10...

Think about who or what really matters to you, and then go about the business of tending that garden.