News Flash!

NEWS FLASH: Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall

Reporter: Do I understand your name is Mother Goose? Can you tell me what you saw today?

Mother Goose: It all started a while back; Humpty Dumpty got it in his head he wanted to sit on the red brick wall. I told him it wasn't a good idea, but I could tell by the way he looked at me with those beady black eyes of his, he would do as he pleased. So, today he talked someone into putting him up there on the wall. Things went fine for a while, then his confidence grew and he began swinging his blue stockinged legs back and forth. The next thing I knew, he tumbled off; took a great fall! They called in the king's horses and the king's men, but you know, they couldn't put him back together again. Now he's just a pile of shattered egg shell among the spring flowers. So sad!! sniff, sniff

Have a blessed Sunday and make it a point to smile at someone,

Charlotte

Could Your Walls Talk?

Have you ever wondered about the life stories lived out in some old house you've seen in passing? I always wonder about the family: mother, father, how many children, how they earned their living, good times and bad. And maybe, just maybe, if I could go inside, there would be some items left to answer these questions: a chipped plate or bowl, a little table or iron bed, and sticking out of the wall, a note written in faded ink.

In past years I have enjoyed the program, If Walls Could Talk, on the television channel, HGTV. Usually the clues, to the mystery of the past, would be found in the attic, or behind a hidden wall panel. Our house was built in 1968, so maybe it doesn't qualify as an old house, but ten years ago, when we did some remodeling, I wanted to leave something of its history for the next residents, for whether we like to think about it or not, we'll be lucky to be able to live here for twenty more years. The house was built by my uncle and his son; we found the walls and corners to be perfectly plumbed and when it came time to tear out the kitchen cabinets, well, they were built to stay! We had put wood paneling on most of the walls, the "in" choice for houses in those days, and now we decided to tear it off and replace it with sheet rock that could be painted white and lighten up the rooms. So, while the walls were naked, I put together a little collection of memorabilia, stuck it between two studs, and watched as bead boarding was nailed over it. Now my walls will be able to talk during the next renovation. In the plastic bag I put pictures of the original kitchen, a piece of vinyl floor covering, a few pages from a catalog to show the fashions of the time, a little history of the actual building of the house, and pictures of our family.

Sometimes I wonder about who will live here when we're gone. If they don't like the condition of the house and decide to remodel, will they find the bag filled with history and listen to what the walls have to say? Will it matter to them?

Could your walls talk? Charlotte

Wednesday -- Around the Yard

Another little show and tell from the yard:

This is a big hosta, in bloom; I don't know how it has survived since an armadillo dug a really big hole under it last summer. It doesn't take hot sunshine too well, but the redbud tree has grown big enough to shade it some this summer.

These flowers are considered to be wildflowers. The yellow one, commonly named Brown-eyed Susan, when found along the roadside, was actually started from seeds I bought called Gloriosa Daisy. They are a little larger than the wild version and have double petals on some plants. The orange flowers are those of the Butterfly Milkweed plant. These pop up here and there in the pastures and come back every year in the same place. Their seed pods are filled with feather-like fluff that is carried off by the wind at the end of summer. I dug up a plant to get it started in my flower bed; they're very hard to transplant because of their long tap root.

This is not in my yard, and the picture doesn't do it justice. It is a wild rose, single-petaled, growing along the edge of the woods at the hay field. (I don't know if I shake too much to get a good picture or if the camera is a dud.) Anyway, wild flowers seem to take the heat and dry weather better than garden flowers. My yard flower beds are beginning to need rain; it's been two weeks since our last rain.

Today we finished hauling all the hay that was baled; tomorrow we will bale again and for now, nothing else is cut. I'm ready to piddle in the sewing room!!

Are you busy with summer chores? I'd like to have you tell me about your work.

Charlotte

More of the Hay Harvest

I've missed visiting with my friends the past couple of days. The weather is hot and dry, perfect for putting up the hay, but not so good for the garden.

We baled two afternoons in this field, and one afternoon in another field, for a total of 200 plus. We baled this afternoon too.

On Monday we hauled a little over half of it. It only takes a few minutes to unload the twelve bales we can haul on the trailer, but that is a few minutes I wait, so I took my Bible to read a few verses. Psalms 90 was where I opened the pages and how well verses four - six went with the day's work: For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and withereth.

Although I have been absent, I read your words before ending my day.

Charlotte

The Smell of Sunshine

After a long winter, shut up inside with no fresh air, I begin to crave the smell of sunshine on my bedding. With pillows and lightweight quilts flapping in the breeze, those musty winter smells just whip off into nowhere and when they're put back on the bed, what a pleasure to lay my tired self down to rest. People used to drag their mattresses outside to soak up the sunshine; I'd like to do that too.

There is a wonderful poem, about hanging clothes outside, on this blog: www.eggsinmypocket.blogspot.com (May 2. 2011 post) and her other blog, www.yesteryearembroideries.blogspot.com has beautiful needlework and embroidered pieces. Check these out; I think you will be very impressed!

So, do you "sun" your bedding, or hang out your laundry to dry?

Have a good day, and remember me in the hay field again today.

Charlotte

Back to Some Needlework

No hay work for me today; Popa is cutting again, and there's grass drying, so we'll be back in the fields Friday and Saturday, taking advantage of the hot, dry weather. However, I have been very busy, washing up dirty jeans and shirts, and trying to cook something to eat rather than sandwiches again; I have to eat vegetables to keep going.

This afternoon I picked up the needle and embroidery floss and finished two blocks for the baby quilt I posted about earlier.

Who would think Jack could jump that high! and not catch his pants on fire?

And who knew Miss Muffet had copper-colored hair and wore red shoes?

This is a sampling of the 1930s reproduction prints I'll use for the patchwork blocks.

Just a stitch now and then will finish it someday.

Charlotte

Wednesday -- Around the Yard and A Recipe

I feel a little tuckered out this morning so I've got to rest up before going back this afternoon to rake more hay. The picture above shows the result of yesterday's baling; it will take much more to feed the cows through winter.

The purple cone flowers are beginning to open up. Butterflies like to sip nectar from them, although I can't for the life of me figure out where they get it, since the "cone" is pretty rough.

This is a bed of June lilies, sometimes mistakenly called tiger lilies. They're often seen on the side of a road where, over the years, a road grader has carried a clump away from some old homestead. (I can't for the life of me take good pictures. I suppose it's because I can't see what I'm taking a picture of. :()

These are blueberries, waiting for about a month to pass before ripening. I usually give away as many or more than I keep for ourselves. Wish I could share with you!

Now I can't believe I'm sharing a recipe with you. Recipes are just not my thing! I rarely try a new recipe unless it's something I have eaten, and liked, or know my husband will eat. You may have already tried this; it's quick and easy, cool for a hot day, and satisfies a sweet tooth.

Easy Jello Salad

2 small boxes orange Jello

1 large carton cottage cheese, drained

1 large can crushed pineapple

1 large Cool Whip

Mix dry Jello with cottage cheese. Drain pineapple until dry. Mix all ingredients together and chill.

(Other fruits can be substituted, just make sure they're drained completely)

Put the salad into a pretty bowl to chill.

Now I can scrape the mixing bowl and lick the spoon!

Enjoy! Charlotte