Making Your Own Wrapping Paper

Tuesday - May 24, 2011

When buying or making something for a special person, I always try to put a little "home-made" aspect to the gift. The ladies at FBC were hosting a baby shower for Jeni and "Baby Boy Hardin!" Since I wasn't going to be able to be at the shower, and I had gotten the Home-made gift completed, I decided to make my own customized wrapping paper. This was a new spin for me.

I actually got the idea from a former student of mine who has shared so many ideas through her pictures, blogs, and status updates! Thank YOU Patricia Puskas Truel; you are indeed a very talented lady whom I love dearly!

I used a program I have on the computer to come up with a one page design. Uploading the pictures; rotaing them; and even switching them to face the opposite direction; I had come up with a design I liked! I also included some symbols that might indicate what could be in the package!

I designed and printed several pages to be used as wrapping paper.

I then taped the sheets together to form the wrap. It was two sheets wide and about six sheets long. Just right for the package I was using!

This is the side view of package . . .

. . . a top view with a little added decor . . .

. . . a closer look at the ribbon and decoration . . .

. . . Cora spotted the "binky" . . .

. . . and decided to "help" unwrap the gift before the shower . . . .

. . . ahhh . . . success, the binky is free . . .

If you have a special gift you want to wrap . . . use your imagination and make your own. I loved doing this for those I love!

Pillow Cases Are Not Just For Pillows Now!

Tuesday - March 22, 2011

It has been over 35 years since I have made a dress using a pattern. I have made little things such as little money bags for VBS one year and a pillow for Cora Ann's little rocking chair. I learned to sew after taking classes while in junior high and watching my grandmother and mother sew.

Mom had a "treadle" Singer sewing machine which gave my legs a workout along with allowing me to adjust the speed of the needle. Then she upgraded to an electric machine, and that was an experience!! When I first started teaching back in 1973, I stayed with my aunt and uncle who lived, as some would say, "in the middle of no where!" I loved it! I bought myself a sewing machine, and when I got my pay, I would buy material, sewing notions, and patterns. I could make two or three new outfits for work for what it would cost to buy one already made outfit from the department store!

Once I got into teaching, the work required of me to do my job increased. I had lesson plans which were needed to be completed; papers had to be graded and recorded; inservice was required after school; and I had to take graduate classes at Marshall to upgrade my certificate and to continue being certified to teach. After teaching elementary for eight years, I decided I needed a change and went to the middle school level teaching English/Reading. Whoa . . . the work I then had doubled! Thus ended any free time in which I could really sew and enjoy it! My machine was put away and the spiders had a new place to build their webs! I eventually sold my machine!

About a month ago, a dear friend ask me if I could make her twin girls a "pillow case" dress. Hmmmm . . .a pillow case dress???? I had never heard of this, but I told her I would do a little research (thanks to the Internet) and see how they were made and would get back to her! I kept thinking, "How hard could a pillow case dress be to make?" and after looking at the patterns on line, I decided they would be sooooo EASY! I contacted my friend telling her I would use her girls as my first attempt at getting back into sewing!! Their first dresses would be on me! :)

While she was pregnant, she and her husband referred to the baby as "monkey;" then they found out they were going to have twins!!!! The girls were premature and had a rough start, but are doing wonderfully now! I went to the material department at our local store to browse for material!!! I came across the perfect material for the girls . . . . material with monkeys all over them! Since the girls are identical, many people will buy them identical outfits, but I decided to make them something alike, but different.

I dug my new machine out of storage (I bought a new Singer about ten years ago) and set it up in our spare bedroom (David's bedroom). While spending days with Mom, I washed the material and cut out the two pillow case dresses. I was ready to start sewing when I got back home!! I have made five dresses in the last two weeks with more being planned!!! My nieces are getting some for their girls, as well as I have made a few for Cora Ann! The person who came up with this pattern . . . . had a great idea for a super easy dress. Depending on the material you choose and the use of extra sewing notion, you can have a play dress or a fancy dress . . . let your imagination run wild!

I am sharing some pictures of three of my first pillow case dresses!

The pattern, material, pins, pinking shears, sewing basket with thread, ribbons, and tape measure . . .

. . the Singer was placed on the sewing cabinet that holds the sewing machine which belonged to Bill's grandmother . . . I love the "leaf" that folds out giving me more room . . . .

. . . . the top has been sewn to the bottom of the dress . . . notice how they are alike, but yet different . . .

. . .sewing a binding around the armhole . . . fold the material under 1/4 of an inch . . . then fold under again to make the binding . . .

. . . the picture above has the "dots" as the top while the one below has the monkeys on top . . .

. . . dress # 1 completed with green ribbon used as the ties on the shoulders . . .

. . . dress #2 completed with brown ribbon used as the ties . . .

. . . I had difficulty making the hat that was included in the pattern . . . my SIL came up with the idea of me making a bandanna . . . using a kerchief that belonged to Toby, I made a head kerchief that was reversible . . .

. . .the material for dress # 3 . . .

. . . ribbon was used to cover the seam and add a little "fancy" to the dress . . .

. . . dress # 3 completed with the brown ribbon used for the shoulders!

This dress also has a matching kerchief that is reversible and was made for a very special little girl's birthday! :):)

The hat pattern that has given me a hard time will be tackled again . . .once I get my other dresses made! The girls will get a matching "floppy" hat . . . later . . . I hope!

Apple Stack Cake

Thursday - February 3, 2011

The recipe I am about to share with you is one that has been made by the women in my family for at least the last 100 years. I remember my grandmother making this cake. I suspect that she was making this cake from the time she and my grandfather moved to WV from Scott County, VA back in 1910. My cousin brought this recipe back to my attention by posting a picture of a recipe card her mother - my Aunt Oma - on FB. It has brought back so many memories for most of us in the family as well as those who live in the area. Many remember their grandmother/mother/aunt making a cake similar to this. Many of of my family and friends have asked for the recipe, so I thought I would share it using the blog! I have included pictures of some of the steps used in making the cake. This is most definitely an "OLD FASHIONED" Stack Cake!

The recipe card that brought back so many fond memories for many of us!

The recipe calls for Apple sauce, but Mom wanted me to use some of her dried apples. I cooked them; mashed them, and then sweetened them!!!!

Mashed, sweetened, and ready to place between the layers of the cake!
All of the ingredients measured and ready to use!

Once the ingredients have been mixed together, the dough will be stiff - like cookie or pie dough!

I make a ball so that I can roll the dough out like pie crust.

I then used one of Mom's OLD scalloped pie pans as a cutter . . .

. . . which gave me the scalloped edge for the cake layers.

The cake layers are thin, and on the cake I used six layers with the dried apples I cooked in between each layer. The apples were juicy and the cake will soak up the liquid!

I made two cakes, a mini-cake, and a couple of "molasses cookies with the dough I made. You are suppose to let the cake to set for a day before slicing it! Good luck on doing that! :)

Following is the recipe for the Stack Cake. Variations on spices, type of apples used is up to your taste!! One friend said she was thinking about adding raisins to the apple mixture!!! The sky is the limit to how you might add to or take away from this recipe!

Old Fashioned Stack Cake

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg - beatened
2 tsp baking powder
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ginger

Cream shortening with molasses; Add egg; Mix all dry ingredients and add with milk.
Beat to a stiff dough; cut out with a scalloped pie pan; place rounds of dough in pan to bake. Bake 12-15 minutes. (oven 350-375 degrees)
Put together with apple sauce; Let stand overnight before serving.

You might like to browse another site that has some really great looking recipes! Yummy!

Bursting the Balloons

Tuesday - January 11, 2011


"Bursting the Balloon" - Strange title, don't you think. Is this blog going to deal with a carnival game where you throw darts to pop the balloons and then win a prize for the number you burst? Hmmmm, that would be a fun thing for some people to do! But no, it is not going to be about the game, rather it is about feelings.

God tells us in the Bible:
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

But I have seen so many times how people think it is okay to say what ever comes to their mind regardless of how it may sound and who may be hurt from their words. Bill and I saw this many times when dealing with kids!!! Of course we know how those early teen years are and how insecure many of them are at this stage of their life. Sadly, some of those who could care less what they say continue doing so as adults.

Many of us have been around co-workers, friends, and even family who are negative and seem to resent the fact that others may be happy and content with their life. I have been around those who appear to resent any addition others have made to their life.

It reminds me of the time I was questioned as a new college graduate about how it was that I could be a college graduate coming from a family on the poorer side of the tracks! The person who questioned me was trying to make me feel I was not worthy of being a college graduate. Now talk about having your balloon burst, mine was deflated quickly until Mom and Dad had a heart to heart talk with me!! I was worthy, and they were proud of what I had accomplished!

There was another time when the county decided to give a proficiency test to all 8th graders in Math and Language Arts. The 8th graders from East Lynn scored higher in Language Arts than any other 8th grade class in the county. Apparently this did not set well with some of the teachers in some of the other middle schools. I was asked to speak to the Language Arts teachers at the beginning of the next school year as to what I did to prepare my students for success. I was honored and humbled at the request. However, I was soon to realize that there was at least one in the county who was questioning how those kids from East Lynn could score so high, and "she" wanted to know just who this teacher was that was to speak to them!!! Unbeknownst to her, I was sitting beside her when she was ranting and questioning how it was a teacher from East Lynn was the one to tell her how to teach Language Arts!!! She sure deflated my balloons! I was already a nervous wreck for having to speak before my peers, but to know there were some who resented me without even knowing who I was . . . now that hurt. I had worked hard with those students as I always had, and they just happened to be a group that caught on to the skills and was able to answer the questions correctly! The lady never apologized. She just huffed and was rude each time we had to come together as a group. All I was guilty of was doing my job the best way I knew how, but I sure felt like I had done something wrong!

I have heard many say they were just telling the truth and being honest with the other person. I don't have a problem with anyone telling the truth or being honest. That is what we are suppose to do. But where do we draw the line? I have seen some who love to burst the balloon of anyone who was having a great moment, day, or life! They were miserable, therefore, everyone else needed to be miserable too. "Misery loves company," so goes the saying I have heard all my life!!!! Many times they may not even realize they have hurt some one's feelings, and then some of us wear our feelings on our sleeves! :(

I've read many post lately where friends and family have been really happy and upbeat, to have something happen to cause them to be be down on their next posting. From what I have read, most of their being down is due to something someone said - or at least the tone of what they said that apparently burst their balloon.

Let's all try to remember:
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:17

My prayers are that your life is going well, and that God will always be by your side as you travel down life's road. May no one burst your balloons!

Food for Thought

Saturday - January 8, 2011

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. "
Colossian's 3:12

Compassion - adj. - feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others
Kindness - n - the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate
Humility - n - a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness
Gentleness - n - the quality of being gentle, kind, or tender
Patience - n - the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset

I came across this verse while reading a novel by Amy Clipton. I have gone back to the page this verse was on several times just to reread it over and over again. It made me to start thinking . . . this is what I have tried to be like as I go through all that life has thrown my way. Some days it is really hard to be all that God wants me to be.

I just wanted to share this verse as "food for thought" for all who might read the blog.

Things You Might Not Know About New Years

Saturday - January 1, 2011

Did you know that New Years was not always celebrated on January 1? According to my research, the celebration of the “new year” is the oldest of all holidays. It actually was first celebrated about 4000 years ago – in the year 2000 BC. The Babylonians celebrated the New Year with the first visible crescent moon – the first day of spring which would be in March. They celebrated the “new year” at this time because to them it made sense - it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blooming whereas January 1 had no astronomical or agricultural significance.

The Romans continued the tradition of observing the “new year” in late March. This caused some problems because apparently their calendars had been tampered with by various emperors causing the calendar to soon become out of sync with the sun! In order to straighten up this problem, the Roman senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the “new year” back in 153 BC.

The tampering continued with the calendar until finally in 46 BC when Julius Caesar established what has become known as the Julian Calendar.

Western nations didn’t start celebrating the “new year” until about 400 years ago. They have many traditions that date back to the Babylonians time, such as making resolutions for the “new year.” The Babylonians most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment while ours today is to lose weight or quit smoking.

The Tournament of Roses Parade, which dates back to 1886, was a way to celebrate the ripening of the orange crop in California.

Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.

The tradition of using a baby to signify the “new year” was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine. The early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.

Although the early Christians denounced the practice of celebrating the “new year “as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth caused the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the “new year” with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus. The use of a baby on a New Year’s banner was brought to America by our German ancestors.

We also have traditions of things that might be done that will bring good luck to you and your family. Being in the company of family and friends is thought to bring good luck for you and those who surround you.

Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. Many will consume certain food with the belief that good luck will be in their future. Eating foods such as black-eyed peas with hog jowls or ham; cabbage which symbolizes prosperity; and some will consume rice, all of which are considered good luck in many cultures from around the world.

The song, “ Auld Lang Syne,” is traditionally played in the background of most New Year celebrations in English-speaking countries. Did you know that the lyrics were partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s and was not published until 1796 after his death. The tune is actually and old Scottish tune that literally means “old long ago,” or simply, “the good old days.”

The lyrics are as follows:

Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

Decking the House With Christmas Cheer

Friday - December 17, 2010

"Deck the Halls with Boughs of holly . . . . fa la la la, la la la la." This is one of the yuletide carols that seems to give most of us a happy feeling. Sure, we know the real meaning of Christmas and the real purpose behind it, but we also like to celebrate and have a great fellowship with our family and friends. Tis the season to show how much we love and care for mankind. Many will decorate their homes - inside and out - as a way to spread the good cheer.

As the years move forward, we are finding it a little sadder in that many of those we love are no longer here celebrating with us. So many things we do reminds me of the time when they were here with us. They say that as times goes on that things will get better. I still see my grandparents, who have been gone for 40 years, grinning from ear to ear when we would open up their presents to us - usually much needed socks. I can see Dad sneaking in to look under the tree to try and find packages with his name on them - Mom would purposely not put names on the packages! :) She always was able to remember to whom the packages belonged, and would put the names on the packages Christmas Eve! I can remember John sneaking around looking in all the "hiding" places that Mom might hide our presents to see if he could find his!!!! Last but not least, I remember our precious Toby who loved to snoop around the presents under the tree. I always got him a box of treats and would wrap it up . . . he would sniff it out, and try his best to get it open!!!!! He loved sticking his head down into the bags to pull out whatever might be down in the bag. It was hard making out the tags this year . . . Toby's name was always included as a giver! :(

I love decorating, but this year we had decided not to do much . . . no one would be here but us, and why decorate and then turn around and take it down and pack it back into storage. A week ago I couldn't stand not having some Christmas up. So, I went out to the shed and found a few things and even found a few things that were half price to add to my displays. The following pictures show our Christmas cheer this year . . . .fa la la la, la la la la.

Our fiber-optic tree . . .
. . . looking from the outside . . . our fiber-optic tree and Santa . . .
. . . I love the different versions of Santa . . . I found this wooden collection at Big Lots for a little change . . . my kind of a deal . . .

. . . through the years I have collected Boston Terrier items because of Toby . . . here are two tree toppers I always used as part of a display and even the top of one of the trees in the past . . . we miss our "babee" . . .

. . . I found some of my collection of Santa's that have been given to me as gifts through the years, and put them on display . . .

. . . the Nutcracker is one that has a sensor . . . it use to drive Toby crazy . . . especially when its cheeks would flash red and it would start playing "The Little Drummer Boy" . . . also on display are a few more of my Santa's . . .
. . . our front porch display includes a wooden Santa and my geese dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause . . .
. . . Mrs. Clause got a little extra help with the decorations . . . fresh snow . . .
. . . I also love the nativity scene . . . this year I found a wooden one that is actually a musical box that plays "Silent Night" . . . a favorite of mine . . . . . . this snow globe is also musical . . . it was a gift from my niece Dawn . . . it was the the first Christmas without Dad . . . it is a gift I will always cherish because she and the family were trying to help me have a good Christmas . . . it plays the tune "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" . . . . . . this is part of our Christmas dishes . . . similar to the Lenox, but a lot more affordable . . . we always used these for Christmas dinner . . . the bell in the center is actually a Lenox bell given to me by Bill and David many years ago . . . another special gift . . . . . . the nativity scene that stays out year round . . . too pretty to put away for all but one month a year . . .

Our wish is that all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year making memories for the years to come!!! May God Bless each and every one of you!!!!