Pink Blankets and Lessons Learned

Sometimes things just do not go quite like you think they are going to when you start out. This morning I decided I would wash the bedding that I took home from my in-laws home. At present we are sorting through household items, as they are in the process of down-sizing.

My husband was gone for the day; so I thought it would be a good time to keep the wash machine running. The first items I put in, were two vellux blankets. I am not even sure they still make these type of blankets, but they were really soft and quite pretty.

I did read the tag to make sure I laundered them correctly. The tag told me to wash in warm water and tumble dry on low. (I am, if nothing else, a direction reader.) The tag also reminded a person that they needed to be washed a minimum of twice a year!

I put those blankets in the machine and got it started. I then proceeded to start housecleaning in my kitchen cupboards while the machine did its’ thing. Later I could hear the wash machine had made it through all the cycles and it was time to transfer them over to the dryer.

Imagine my surprise when I lifted that washer lid…..it looked like a giant rodent had been set loose in the machine with those blankets. Instead of blankets, I had a washer full of pink fluff that faintly strongly resembled that blow-in attic insulation…..only pink.

After a moment of stunned, brain-numbing disbelief, I started to laugh. I am not really sure why; but there was really nothing else to do! Mumbling to myself, I went in search of a garbage bag and headed back to the laundry room.

You would not believe how long it takes to scoop out two blankets worth of fluff from a washing machine. You would also not believe how that pink fluff tends to spread into every part of your home.

I did have to take a photo of the fluff and send it to my sister-in-law with the rather vague caption, “Vellux blankets do not age well when not used.” She called to tell me she was laughing so hard she about cried when she saw the photo of that bag of fluff.

I did learn a lesson from the bag of fluff….maybe not such a profound lesson…but a lesson none-the-less. I learned that we should use our good stuff because it might not age well and we may as well enjoy it while we can.

It also made me think that, perhaps, we should not wait till the time is “just right” to do the things we have on our bucket list. By the time it is “just right” life could have shredded!

I learned that sometimes life does not go as planned. Sometimes, it starts out looking marvelous, goes through a “wet” patch, and falls apart. I also learned it does no good to fret about it…it is much better for the attitude to find the funny side (if possible) and look for the silver lining (there usually is one, though it might be buried pretty deep).

Fortunately, a shredded blanket is not the end of the world. Sometimes it can be a great reminder to treasure the things we have, treasure the people we know and to not put items and people on a shelf to be enjoyed later.

It is a reminder to live the life we have now. We cannot go back and change things that have happened…..I cannot go back and turn that fluff back into a beautiful pink blanket….but I can find the “funny” in it….I can believe that life is good and trust that God’s got it….whatever “it” is.

 

Accept what is,
let go of what was,
have faith in what will be
Unknown

Memories and Recipe Cards

Have you ever spent time going through old recipe cards and books? Part of my day was spent doing just that. I have a book at my house that is filled with old recipe cards from my husband’s grandma.

The book will be sent to my sister-in-law as she is the only girl in the family and it just seems like it should be hers to have and cherish. I did decide that I would also like copies of those recipes to keep; so I spent some of this snowy day, making copies of them.

It was interesting to see what kind of recipes our grandmothers thought were good enough to keep and to make for their families. I found cards for cookies, cakes, desserts etc. I grinned when I noticed the overwhelming majority of the recipes were for sweet things. Obviously, sweets have been popular for a very long time.

The recipes were from women named Tillie, Marietta, Alice, Darlene, Gerdena, Zelma and more. Even the names seemed to fit those faded cards that were filled with wonderful cursive writing. Some of the recipes were not even written on cards. I loved the one that was on the back of a bank deposit form.

I can just imagine those women, sitting together discussing what they should make for the next gathering. One of them remembers a recipe but cannot find anything to write it down on. After rummaging through her purse….she pulls out a bank deposit form and proceeds to write it on the back. I am so glad grandma did not transfer it to a fancy card but left it as it was.

Those women were prolific when it came to keeping recipes to use for future meals and treats for their families. They seemed to take great joy in providing food for their families, neighbors and fellow church members. I know my grandma did and I know my husband’s grandmas did as well.

Those grandmas loved to share their good recipes. I remember the big smiles they gave, when I would ask for a recipe from them. There was a joy in that sharing, there was a joy in the passing on of knowledge accumulated through the years.

There is something so valuable about grandmas passing on their knowledge….not only for making food, but of life. There is much wisdom to be learned from the generations that have gone before.

There is a wealth of information on raising children, serving others, being a person of compassion and just generally living life; that can be gained from those who have lived many more years than we have.

It is my prayer that you are all blessed with someone who has that type of wisdom. It is a wonderful thing when someone like that has a place in your life.

I am reminded of those who have gone before, every time I look through the cookbooks that my grandma used to own. Her handwritten notes, next to certain recipes have never steered me wrong. I have a feeling the heirloom recipes I gained today will also find a place among those cherished cookbooks.

 

My grandma’s old cookbook is aged and forlorn.
The pages are grease stained, each faded and worn.
The spine is collapsed and the cover’s askew,
revealing, in no way, what this book could do.
A barrel of cookies, sweet, fresh lemonade,
roasts, casseroles, salads this ancient book made.
It brought love and caring to both young and old,
delivering happiness not bought or sold.
Its owner and user breathed life to this book,
by sharing herself with each recipe cooked.
True gifts from her heart were delivered with love,
presented on earth for her Father above.
Her gentle, sweet kindness was blended with care.
A silent reminder that she had been there
to welcome your newborn…
to ease every ill…
true unselfish gestures of love and goodwill.
So don’t be deceived by the physical book,
but rather… rejoice in the wonderful cook.
Just cherish and honor each frayed, weathered page,
for pure, loving kindness has brought forth its age.

by Jane-Ann Heitmeuller

Spring Will Arrive…..Sometime

You know it is windy when there are whitecaps on the water in the birdbath! Our area of the country has been warned that we are to receive a major winter blizzard this weekend……yes, you read right….this weekend.

They have been warning us for the entire week and so we have been in a bit of a rush to get prepared for this event. Things that needed to be put under cover have all been moved. Things that had been ordered and needed picking up have been picked up.

We have even got our emergency jars filled with water just in case the electricity goes out. This is a distinct possibility as they predict rain changing to snow. During that transition time the electric lines tend to ice up and bounce around in the wind. That leads to downed lines and zip for electricity.

We use a well for our water supply; and without electricity there is no pumping of water to be had. There is also no furnace running should that happen, so my husband has made sure we are adequately supplied with wood for the woodstove.

Storm events have a way of disrupting the normal flow of our lives. They also have a way of making us appreciate when things seem to run smoothly. Perhaps this latest winter storm is a reminder to appreciate those “normal” days.

When we have a snow event this late in the season there is always that glimmer of hope that the snow will not stick around long. In fact it is much more than a glimmer…it is a sure fact. We know that it will not be long and it will have all melted and Spring will actually be here to stay.

Spring has never failed to show up. The seasons are faithful that way. They may throw us a bit of a curve but inevitably the season will be what it is supposed to be….It cannot be anything else and that is a comfort.

I love the way the seasons mirror God. He is faithful. He never fails to show up….even when life is filled with unexpected events….He is still there through it all. And that is the biggest comfort of all!

May this weekend find you comforted by faithfulness. May you be safe, warm and content with where you find yourself in this season of life. And if you are not in a comfortable season; may you have the assurance that life will straighten out and the “normal” season will return.

“Every new season of you life will be an opportunity for you to learn and grow. Don’t celebrate the good without celebrating the bad because they both work together to prepare you for the next season of your life.” 
― Theresa Lewis

“To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes

Really Good Pudding Dessert

The other day I got a call asking if I would trade turns for bringing lunch to our Coffee Break Bible Study. I had no reason to refuse so I went ahead and started looking through my pantry items to figure out what I could make without making a trip to the grocery store.

After checking the fridge and finding that I did, indeed, have cream cheese and also realizing I had the necessary White Chocolate pudding mix I decided to go ahead and make a family favorite for Bible study.

If you are looking for an incredibly easy dessert to make and if you like cream cheese…this may just be the dessert for you. It is smooth without being overly sweet and totally delicious. It does not take very much time to put together, which is another big win….at least for me it is a win.

Great Pudding Dessert

Crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup chopped nuts-optional

Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese
2/3 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces Cool Whip
2 packages white chocolate instant pudding mix
2 1/2 cups milk

Directions:
Mix crust- put in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350º  for 15 minutes.
Whip Cream cheese, powdered sugar.
Add 1/2 of the Cool Whip and mix thoroughly.
Spread on cooled crust.

Mix milk with pudding mix.
Add rest of Cool Whip.
Put on top of Cream cheese layer.
Top with nuts if desired.
Let set in refrigerator.
Enjoy!!

Years ago I got this recipe from a friend. It had no name so I just named it what my family always called it! Sometimes keeping things simple is a great way to go. Many times…..keeping it simple is a great way to go. (Yep….I think there is a lesson in there somewhere!)

I am always on the lookout for quick simple recipes of all kinds. I love to explore the possibility of new favorites. If you have a family favorite please feel free to share in the comments……in fact I would be very grateful to have you share, as I could add to my stash of simple favorites.

 

“The discovery of a new dish
does more for the happiness of the human race
than the discovery of a star.” 
― Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste: Or, Meditations on Transcendental Gastronomy

 

 

Spring?????

I looked out my window this morning and once again stood in amazement. My mind just cannot believe it is really spring; because what I keep seeing is winter just laying around….all over the ground.

This past Monday night we, once again, had a snowstorm…..a blizzard actually. It snowed so much, they did not have classes at the local schools on Tuesday.  Once again, the weatherman predicted an inch. As the storm came closer the only thing “inch” about this storm was that they kept on “inching” up on the snow amount predictions.

Once the storm had blown through and was done, the yard was white, the deck had over a foot of snow on it and my husband had to get out the loader tractor for us to even think about getting out of the garage and off the yard.

By the time I took the photo (above) it was afternoon today and it had started melting….a lot! One of my friends made the comment that this season feels rather like the movie Ground Hog Day…we just keep repeating the same weekend snowstorms over and over. Each weekend is starting to be identical to the once before.  Sadly, they are also predicting another snowstorm this coming weekend. So far they are not giving any snowfall amounts…probably a wise choice on their part!

I have to keep reminding myself that I should be looking for the good in this.  My good friend Mrs. Cobs over at Cobweboriumemporium mentioned the book Pollyanna in one of her recent posts. So like Pollyanna I will intentionally look for silver linings to this snow.

We can use the moisture in our area…the last years have had us in a drought zone so all this heavy wet snow melting into the ground and making mud is actually a wonderful thing. Once we get into our gardens and fields it will be a blessing to have had this snow.

I do feel kind of bad about not having my potatoes planted on Good Friday this year.  My husband and I have always had them in the ground by Easter. Some years they did get snowed on but they always did well. This year I guess it is good it snowed because we did not even have the seed potatoes in the house to plant.

The snow also does cover up the mud for a time….a very short space of time before it makes more mud…..which I guess will be good once those barn swallows return as they will need that mud for repairing and making new nests.

Speaking of birds…I do feel a bit sorry for those summer birds that have returned and now have to deal with the snowfall. The robins, killdeer and meadowlark seem to just be hunkering down and waiting it out.

Perhaps that is the lesson I also need to learn from these repeat storms. I need to be patient, just hunker down and wait it out. Maybe it is a good lesson to slow down, enjoy what the day brings and always find something good in that day. Yes…there is definitely a lesson in contentment to be found on a Spring day that is filled with snow.

 

 

On a positive note….
I haven’t seen any mosquitoes in weeks!
Unknown