Twist Me A Crown of Wind-Flowers













"Twist me a crown of wind-flowers;
that I may fly away 

To hear the singers at their song,
And players at their play.


















Put on your crown of wind-flower:
But wither would you go?



Beyond the surging of the sea
and the storms that blow.



Alas! Your crown of wind-flowers
Can never make you fly: 

I twist them in a crown to-day,
And to-night they die."



- Twist Me a Crown
Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-94)

Seventh Brother



This past weekend my youngest brother Stephen played a "townsfolk" suitor in his high school's musical production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He competes with the "brother" Benjamin Pontipee for Dorcas' hand and sadly does not prevail. 

He kind-of had the suavest dance moves on the stage. What was Dorcas thinking? Your loss girl. Your loss.

Have you every seen this 1954 film rendition? My family holds a special affinity for the story because we have seven children in our family. Growing up, my sisters and I watched this movie over and over again, each pretending to be one of the "brides" and Stephen, whether he acknowledged it or not, was assigned the youngest Pontipee brother Gideon.

There is a part in the film where Gideon, after hearing the cry of his newborn nephew, marvels "I'm an Uncle" and faints. EVERY TIME we watched the movie as kids we would stand up during this part, mimic Gideon, and faint. Every time. Family tradition. Funny how things like that get perpetuated.

{These guys look pretty happy for just being passed over for some scroungy backwoodsman}

 
Look at that stud-muffin. 

Polar Bear Visitor



This little polar bear stopped by our home to rest after his long traverse from the Arctic. 

He commenced his expedition to Michigan two weeks ago on the night Luke Adam was born. He knows he was made to be best-of-friends with Luke and the long journey was made short dreaming up the adventures they will spend together. He got a little turned around on his way to Michigan (that's what happens when you ask a moose for directions) and ended up further south than anticipated. 

 When he heard that we are cousins to the Luke he asked if he could bunk a couple of nights with us before trekking the rest of the way. 

He's partial to a frigid climate. So, we fixed a bed for him where he'd feel most at home. 





 Luke, we can't wait to meet you! 

Bulletin Board Makeover


A little over-the-weekend project for the kitchen. 



I've been storing the two vintage strawberry trays since I bartered them down to $2.50 a pair the summer before last (a proud garage sale moment). 


Stumbling upon this picture finally helped me decide how to use them. 


I knew I'd need more trays, so with a little e-bay hunting I happened upon the gingham set of ten. 

So perfect. 


A sweet and simple way to display photos of dear friends, little notes, and dental appointment reminders. Egh, better to forget that last one. 

Admirable Combinations: Giraffe Gingerbread + A Blossom in the Desert


I decided to begin a new "series" on this blog called "admirable combinations" where I highlight a scrumptious treat and book I'm savoring at present. The title is inspired by C.S. Lewis' quote "eating and reading are two pleasure that combine admirably." Oh that Clive, he's so quotable.

The first in this series are giraffe gingerbread cookies and A Blossom in the Desert: Reflections of Faith in the Art of Lilias Trotter.

The so-cute-you-feel-bad-about-biting-their-heads-off giraffe gingerbread cookies were made by our friend Charlene as a treat for Zade's birthday. She left them hung in a white paper bag on our doorknob - a fun surprise to come home to! 

A Blossom in the Desert is a compilation of Lilia Trotter's sketches and paintings paired with writing excerpts from her diaries, journals, and out-of-print books. 

She is truly one of my heroes of the faith. Her humility and submission to God kindles my soul. If we have a daughter I hope to name her "Lilias." 

Below is an excerpt from her "Lesson of the Buttercup"...



"Look at this buttercup as it begins to learn its new lesson. 

The little hands of the calyx clasp tightly in the bud round the beautiful petals; in the young flower their grasp grows more elastic - loosening somewhat in the daytime, but keeping the power of contracting, able to close in again during a rainstorm, or when night comes on. But see the central flower, which has reached its maturity. The calyx hands have unclasped utterly now - they have folded themselves back, past all power of closing again upon the petals, leaving the golden crown free to float away when God's time comes. 

Have we learned the buttercup's lesson yet? Are our hands off the very blossom of our life? Are all things - even the treasures that He has sanctified - held loosely, ready to be parted with, without a struggle, when He asks for them?" - Lilias Trotter in A Blossom in the Dessert

Zade's Birthday: Two are Better Than One

Zade and I observed the passing of thirty to thirty one years by asking off our respective works and spending a restful, unpretentious day together. 

The theme for this birthday was "two are better than one" from this passage of Scripture.

The decor.....



A little drawing of the two of us holding hands. 

The gift.....



Since purchasing our X-box console a few months ago Zade and I have affirmed the need for another controller so we can spend date nights nerding-out together once in a while. I snagged this one off Craigslist from a plump, sweet-looking high school boy with a mouth full of braces. We made the trade-off at a movie theater. It seemed fitting.


The cake.....



I tried - and failed miserably in my domesticity- to make this cake from Sweetapolita. My salted caramel swiss buttercream filling was a sweet, frothy mess - the consistency of cottage cheese. Yes, that bad. I threw it out and opted for a favorite chocolate standby. Ladies from our church let me borrow their six inch pans - so kind - the size is so darling. 


 

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow." - Ecclesiastes 4:9,10

Thank you Zade for being by my side to lift me when I fall. 

Let Light Shine Out of Darkness


We've set up this garland of lights for Valentine's Day this year. 
The lights glowing in their doilied hearts bring to mind how, as 2 Corinthians 4:6 says, ..."God made his light to shine in our hearts to give us the light...of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Lately I've been meditating on, and taking comfort in, the truth that God is light. 
 This world seems consumed by darkness with sorrow unbearable. 
Despair beckons.

But then, I look to Christ and "the morning star rises in my heart" (2 Peter 1:19) and I am filled with a joy and hope that cannot be taken away.


Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Hal My Pal

February is fast approaching and with it I begin training for the Indy Mini Marathon!  My freshman year of college my Auntie Laura convinced me to run my first Indy Mini with her (to *ahem* help ward off the freshman 15).  I'm not really a natural runner...I think I like the idea of it more than the nitty gritty feet-to-the-pavement reality of it all....but, having a definitive fitness goal like a mini helps me become more disciplined. So, here I go again! This will be my fourth Indy Mini and every time I've run I've used Hal Higdon's Novice Half Marathon Training Program. I thought I'd give Hal's Intermediate Program a try but am a little nervous because I've never done speed work before. 

Is anyone else giving a mini or full marathon a go this season? 


DIY Cake Platter

I've wanted to make a cake platter for years now. Over Christmas break my sisters and I decided we wanted to spend a day making something crafty. So we happily scooted off to Raven's Roost Antique Gallery to choose our plates and stands. 

Vintage plates, silver goblets, and glue. 

We used Gorilla Glue at first - bad idea. It bubbled and showed up as white against our cream plates and silver goblets. We had some epoxy on hand and I recommend this for any cake plate DIYers. 

Apply epoxy/glue and some heavy reading 

and voila! Pretty.

 I'm pretty sure my sisters were planning to gift their platters but then couldn't bear to give them up! My platter is holding clementines and shelled nuts right now but I'm looking forward to baking up some pretty little cupcakes some time soon.