{going to special places}

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Trish

One night last week, I went someplace that I had not been to in a very long time. I hadn’t even thought about this place in many years. The last time I was there, I was maybe 12 years old, at best.

But when I walked in, everything was exactly as I remembered it. No one was home but coming through the front door, I could feel the sun warm me as it came through the sliding glass doors opposite the front door. There was candy in the dish that sat on the dining room hutch just like I remembered it. In the kitchen, I immediately found the vintage juice jar that I remembered my grandmother using and the little glasses she served the juice in. The table was tucked away along the wall, tablecloth covering it but no plate of butterscotch cookies like she used to make.

The floors looked the same. The light switches made the same sound when you flipped them on that I remembered. The doorknobs turned the way I remembered and my feet made the same sound I remembered when I walked across the hardwood floor in the spare bedroom I used to nap in.

And then I heard some laughing, and there was a fire in the fireplace, and I found some things that I had never seen before in a box in the corner. And someone said to me, “Those are for you – we’ve been saving them up to give to you”. When I turned around, I was so excited to see it was my Grandfather. I hadn’t seen him or hardly thought about him in the almost 30 years since he passed away when I was a child. He looked exactly as I remembered him. He had the same funny laugh and sweet appalachian accent that I hadn’t heard in forever. He and my grandmother used to call me “tree-sha” and would say things like “mursh-rooms” or “worsch” (Tricia, mushrooms and wash if you’re not from Southern Ohio).

I don’t know what prompted this dream. It was so vivid. So real. For days, I haven’t been able to get him out of my mind. When I woke up, I remembered every single detail of that dream which is rare. I’ve poured back over those memories a thousand times since that night and I can’t stop thinking about his face and his eyes and his smile and that moment.

I don’t believe in ghosts and I’m not really sure I will ever be able to explain what prompted that dream. But it was so comforting. I felt like I was being watched as I grew. That I was being nurtured and cared for. That he was still with me even though not physically. He still knew me even though I had grown so much since he saw me last. He knew me and he loved me. And I remembered how much I loved him.

I have only had a dream that was so vivid and that I remembered that well one other time, and that was about my sister who also passed away when I was a child. I think I was 15 or 16 when I had that dream and she died before I was even 2 years old (she was 15 when she died). It does make me wonder if we visit with those we love who have passed on in our dreams…that when we close our eyes, we allow ourselves to go places that sometimes are too painful to think about when our eyes are open.

It sure made me smile though, being in that place, remembering the sights and sounds and smells and the feel of that special place…and hearing a familiar voice and seeing a familiar face. Whatever it was, it was good.

{squash pie, yep!}

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Trish

My husband, the Gardener, as I refer to him, had a pretty hefty harvest this year of butternut squash. Oh…how he toiled over these vines as they grew. Bahahaha! No, really, he didn’t.

These were volunteers from our compost bin from winter. 25 volunteers mind you. TWO – FIVE. That’s a lotta volunteers friends. What do you do with all that squash? Make mash of course.

So last week, I cleaned, sliced in half and placed all 25 of these babies on foil lined pans. Added a bit of water bath to the pan and baked at around 400′ for almost an hour. The skins come right off pretty much and then I mashed them, keeping a few chunks in there. After it cools, I bag them and freeze them.

My Mother-in-Law, aka the worlds GREATEST pumpkin pie baker (sorry Mom, but it’s true – my MIL has you beat by a mile). She makes REAL squash pies. Pumpkin or butternut squashes, etc makes no difference. She adds milk, eggs, sugar, spices and salt and holy toledo – what comes out IS a slice of heaven. A little chunky but real – real squash pie. Not from a can. REAL. Ya gotta try it! You’ll never go back to the can.

And the rest of the mash – soup. Did I mention I am awesome at soup making? I believe I have…I’ll say it again. I rule at the soup thing. Give me a ring – you and I can get together for some squash soup, ok?

(I’ll bring back the Monday Mornings Inspiration next week – any ideas where you want to see this go? I’d love to have more people tooting their horns there!)

{the peas and their “sheepish” smiles}

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Trish

I have been busy as a bee…sewing for art shows and preparing the peas for their sheep show in 4H.

It’s the Guys and Gals Lead and the show consists of the participants wearing outfits made from wool, leading their lambs around the arena, and modeling their outfit for the judges.

Thinking about being “green”, we went to thrift store and shopped for wool sweaters that we could refashion. We found a grey wool skirt and a load of sweaters.

I literally, had no idea what I would do. I thought I would do some patchwork but honestly, until I put the scissors to everything…it just came as I went along.

I started with the grey skirt. I cut off roughly 10″ or so and added a ruffle hem. Then, using the excess fabric I made a ruffle and sewed that onto the hem and added more of that ruffle to the green cardigan sweater. With just a little bit left of that excess fabric, I made a rosette for a belt and also to add to her hat. ZERO WASTE. I used up every bit of what I cut off of the skirt. And since I had no ideas on this skirt and just made it up as I went along – I am SUPER happy with how it turned out. I wish it fit me. I may need to pattern this because I just love the fit and flare!

The other outfit I knew I wanted a very full twirly skirt. I cut patches of cottons and sweaters and pieced them together. I couldn’t put right sides together because the seams turned out REALLY bulky using the sweaters. So instead, I just overlapped them and zigzagged across the outside to tack the edges down. I wasn’t sure how that would turn out but it worked great and you can’t even tell the seams are on the outside. Plus, the seams all lay so nice and flat – there was really no other way to do it I don’t think.

I really wanted these outfits to have a vintage but modern spin and I think we achieved that. We even found cute vintage wool hats at the thrift store.

Well, the show was last night and the peas had a blast. We all did. Ok, maybe not so much Sprout. It was way past her bedtime AND she was kind of ticked that she wasn’t showing. There was a 3 year old class. Next year Sprout, we promise!

My green pea showed with little lamb Carly, a tunis, and my little peachy pea showed with little lamb Allie, a suffolk. Both lambs borrowed from two very sweet families. The peas were happy to have the Gardener there to talk to some of the other Dads to get the low-down on sheep because they want some of their own asap. Which means a lot of work and expenses – so we told the girls there has to be much research done before we make any commitments. Owning livestock is a big responsibility you don’t just jump into on a whim. But the girls are old enough to take it on themselves and so we will just need to thoughtfully consider it .

So how did they do in their show? Well, they are judged on their ability to control the animal, the animal itself with the majority of points based on the outfit and their modeling.

The peas took 1st and 2nd in their class! We were so excited but the peas were OVER THE MOON!! I thought it might be an issue that one beat the other one out but they were ok with that. And their 4H advisor bought them a milkshake to celebrate. THAT was heaven for these girls!!

Earlier in the week, one of the peas competed in the Pocket Pets program with her hamster and she took 5th place in that show. (that’s her below in her interview and then with her award). They have gotten to miss some school, hang out with their friends, watch their friends win (wow! our club has done awesome!) and eat fair food (oh sweet heaven, steak sandwiches and elephant ears, and rootbeer). Sprout slept through most of it (note the pink boots – that’s all she wears these days. If I had pink cowgirl boots, it’s all I would wear too!)

This was their first year and they have had made the most amazing memories – it’s one of those things that as a parent, I know that this week will be something so special to them as they grow. It’s been a great experience for our family.

4H is everywhere! Rural and Urban and they have tons of projects ranging from robotics to bicycles and sports, health and nutrition…not just livestock and animals. It’s a fantastic program and I HIGHLY recommend you check it out for your kids!

And now…maybe we can get back to a normal schedule somewhat. Maybe.