Good For Use

Thanks for stopping by! Grab a cup of tea. I have been doing a little cleaning so please forgive the mess. Let me tell you how it got started.

While reading a recent thread on a facebook page someone had commented on their tarnished silver and how it doesn't bother them. "Me, too", I thought. Then I started looking around at my silver pieces. I have quite a bit of it. I did not purchase most of it. I inherited it from my grandmother and great-grandmother. Life was different for them. Entertaining in their lives was something more formal and special. I can only imagine paper plates and red solo cups would have been a major social faux pas. My pieces are beautiful. I love the curves, the shine....

Some of my grandmother's and great-grandmother's silver.
This picture fills me with anxiety!

Well, truth be told I was missing the shine part but it doesn't bother me. Right? Wait, it didn't bother me. Of course, I haven't been using these pieces because they are tarnished. It is a big chore to clean all that silver. As I looked around at the rooms that have silver pieces the tarnish started to bother me- rreeaallyy bother me. Ugh! Okay. Do I just like the tarnish because it is easier to live with than to get rid of? Hmm. I felt a lesson brewing but pushed forward. 

I pulled three pieces. I will start there. I grabbed the one piece that was almost black with tarnish.

 I know! Tarnish doesn't happen over night. It is weeks and months of dust and dirt left unchecked. That is really bad for silver, blah, blah, blah. I know! I had some leftover Twinkle hiding somewhere from that last time I got this crazy urge. I also found some Tarn-x but couldn't remember why I bought it since the bottle was still pretty full. When I opened the bottle and poured some out it became abundantly clear! That stuff STINKS!! What is in there? I will stick with the Twinkle.

That first dish took me over an hour to clean up. It was that nasty. I was talking to myself the whole time; chastising myself for allowing such corrosion to take place and not keeping it in check with regular cleanings. As I rubbed and the black lifted I could see glimpses of shininess that kept me motivated but I was thinking maybe I will just get this one piece done for the day- that will be enough. There has to be an easier way than this. After rinsing out my sponge more times than I cared to count I finally washed the piece off and buffed it up with a dry towel. It was not as clean as I had thought. I had to repeat the process several times before it really was clean.

I could now see my reflection! Yay!  Now the real beauty of the piece shined forth! Why had I let it get so bad? The true beauty of the piece is really only seen when my reflection can be seen in it. Not that the reflection of my image is of any importance but at this point I am keenly aware that I am being taught a lesson here. I grabbed more silver!

I searched the internet (think Pinterest) and found a recipe for cleaning silver. I lined a plastic tub in tin foil, added 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda and filled the tub with hot water. Stir it a bit to dissolve the salt and soda. I put some spoons, a julep cup and some plates into the water. I thought that the smell that was coming from the plastic tub was similar to the bottle of Tarn-x. It is not quite as bad but it is there. Ten minutes in the tub, rinse with warm water and buff up with an old, soft t-shirt. That did work wonderfully but on the really bad pieces there are not short cuts. I grabbed more silver. I got about 1/3 of the pieces clean and will work on more today.

Two hot chocolate cups-one dirty one clean.

So much better clean!

One days fruit!

Tarnish is corrosive. It can cause pitting that cannot be removed. I am sorry to say there was one piece that was damaged to that point. During the cleaning I was repeatedly reminded of truth. When I do not go to Christ Jesus with my sin-dust and dirt- regularly it tends to build up. I lie to myself that is easier to live with the yuck than to submit to the cleansing. Over time the beauty He has given me is not easily seen. But, He is faithful to bring me to a place where I am bothered by the ugliness just as I was bothered when I really looked at my silver. Then He begins the cleansing. He rubs and buffs through trials, prayer and His Word. Sometimes scars/pitting is left that is a reminder of my neglectfulness. When He has finished the image that is reflected is his own then the true beauty and worth of His piece shines forth and is good for use. How long did I sit this time covered in tarnish being of no use to my King? His mercies are new every day and today I am ready for use.

With all this silver sparkling clean I am admiring the beauty. I think I will linger here for a bit over a cup of tea before getting back to work.  I am glad you stopped by today. Thanks for the visit.

Better Late

Okay, it has taken me every bit of three weeks but I finally got my Christmas stuff put away. Well, mostly put away. The icicle lights are still hanging off the gutters on the front porch but they can wait. It is cold out there and I am not into self torture.

For the past ten years we have hosted an annual Christmas party with two other home school families. It began when the children we much younger. We don't meet with either family for school anymore but the children insisted we still had to have the party. "It's tradition!", This year's (or can I now say last year's) Christmas party was delayed due to illness (I had a flu bug) and the next available date for everyone was not until the first week in January.

Typically, I like to have everything down and put away on New Year's Day. As a home school mom people get the impression that we have an abundant amount of time to get things like that done but the truth is -at least my truth is- I don't have time to spend a whole day taking things apart, packing them up and then dragging it all up the pull-down stairs to the attic, to speak nothing of the vacuuming and dusting afterwards. It is also a lot easier to get things to the attic with Mr.'s help. We needed to be ready to dive back into full-time school work January 2nd. With that all in mind I started taking things down and packing them away the morning of January 1st and as soon as my girls realized what I was doing they started whining like four-year-olds. No offense to four-year-olds. So some things made it to the attic but most of the stuff got left out for the belated Christmas party.

I mused that at least the menu could be a little more sophisticated since they are all getting older and their palates are more mature. Ha! I verbalized that to one mom and then an email came from the other mom expressing the her children were so excited about having our annual pizza puffs! Really?! My girls concurred, of course. "Mom (insert whiny voice here), we have to have to have pizza puffs! (Say it with me.....) It's tradition!" I can hear Tevya from Fiddler On The Roof singing right now! So pizza puffs and gingerbread cake it was. I did manage to sneak in a different punch with no complaints.

The party was a success. It was nice to hold onto Christmas a little longer. The girls were right. Keeping things up did lend to a festive atmosphere. The children used to play games like snowball fight in my kitchen. No.....not real snowballs! We would used wadded up tissue paper and there was a line across the center of the room. Whichever team ended up with the least amount of snowballs on their side of the room at the buzzer won the match. My kitchen is not huge but when they were little it was fine. As they got older the thought of them being able to play like that in the kitchen seemed comical as just having us all stand in the kitchen made it crowded. We also used to do colonial dancing with the kids. Now, before you roll your eyes you should know that the kids liked it. Really. The girls used to dress up when we would take them to Sturbridge Village, they liked it! Really!

Now we settle for less physically active games. The kids enjoy talking and reminiscing about "the good old days". It was fun for us as moms to listen to their recollections of Christmases past. As moms who teach at home we often wonder if we are doing everything they need. Conversations that day served to assure me that what we have done at home has been worthwhile. I don't know how many more of these parties we have in our future as the children grow, go off to college and move on from childhood things. In the grand scheme of things waiting an extra week (or three) to pack things away really was not a big sacrifice. One day is coming when thoughts trying to get my home in order while schooling and living in a transition mess will be forgotten.  What will remain are the memories of laughter, excited chatter, carols sung, children dancing and the joy of just spending time celebrating the blessings we have because of what God has given us.

2014: The Year in Review

Well, it has been a crazy year in our home! It is hard for me to even begin to recount all that we accomplished in the past twelve months. A year ago the only thing I was anticipating was a fabulous trip to Bermuda that my Mr. had purchased for us as a Christmas gift. That was a big deal for us and so exciting!

Bermuda 2014

As we entered the new year we realized that our home really needed some attention and toyed with the idea of selling the home and passing the work on to someone else. I wanted a dishwasher and getting one in  my kitchen was next to impossible, I thought. The idea of moving slowly faded from our radar as clearer heads prevailed (more like God said no), and we rolled up our sleeves and tore apart our kitchen, pantry and half bath. My husband said I have the most expensive dishwasher ever!

Silly girls!

Wrecking crew.

I became quite adept at cooking in a crock pot and small microwave oven. I learned way more about construction than I thought I ever wanted to know. I became keenly aware of all the behind-the-scenes things they don't show you on do-it-yourself television programs. I learned that my girls can really work hard and long hours like troopers. My husband showed me, once again, the lengths he will go to make my crazy dreams come true.

Dreamy kitchen

Our homeschooling experience changed this year. In the fall we set out on our own. For five or six years we worked with another family. We met once a week and reviewed together, sharing  resources and ideas.  We encouraged one another. To be honest, I don't know that I encouraged my dear friend as much as she did encouraged me. She was always so well prepared and often I felt like I was clumsily stumbling through. Our last class together was in May. Our children are getting older, one of her children graduated and the Lord has brought three new young ones into her life through adoption. Our season changed. It was sad on one hand but on the other comforting to know that it is God who establishes these seasons and provides us with exactly what we need when we need. We are learning how to do this on our own again and I think we are having fun in the journey. I will miss our unit celebrations and field trips with our friends.

April 2011 Unit Celebration. Year 4 Tapestry of Grace.

This year I learned what it means to be a church family. I learned that when many people each do a little we can accomplish beautiful things as we follow the orders of  our King; love one another as you have been loved. We had to part with a dear friend as she went home after a long illness. I know we will meet again and have been comforted recently as I think about this being the best Christmas she has ever known!

As I think of all the things I learned this year I would be remiss to not reflect on the lessons that are eternal. God has strengthened me and made me weak. He has provide for every need and he has re-prioritized my lists to highlight the things that are truly needful. As I look forward to the year ahead I know that whatever comes it will be according to the will of God. One word keeps rattling through my brain, poking out from dark corners and whispering to me when I am still. Content.  Be content. I think I will try to purpose myself to explore that more in the year ahead. I want to be able to say, as the apostle, Paul, did "...for have learned in whatever situation I am to be content". (Phil.4:11)

I did a lot and learned a lot this year. I turned fifty this year! I started my blog this year!  I finally got to see Washington D.C. I've learned more about myself, too. That can be a discussion for another time; it is enough for now that I am still learning. I am looking forward to whatever God has in store for me in 2015 and looking forward to what he does in your life, as well. Thanks for sharing the year with me. God willing, I will see you next year!

Linking up to Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays!

Comfort and Joy!

I love the Christmas season. I love the decorating and baking. I love wrapping presents and attending festive gatherings. I love wishing people a Merry Christmas. I love shopping for those special gifts that fit each person I am buying for and especially when that happens to coincide with a light snowfall. I am sad for those that think this time of the year is a hassle and express their disdain as they roll their eyes or huff their way through the checkout line. Did they loose the wonder of Christmas? Did they never know it?

My home has been a progressive decorating experiment this Christmas. I can't figure out what my style is, where it headed or what I want it to be. With two "new" rooms in my house this year I am having a hard time figuring out what to do with them in light of the fact the fact that most of my Christmas décor has a country feel to it. I think I have Decorating ADD in that I like too many different things that I cannot seem to make go together. I see the pretty pictures online where everything matches and all the balls on the  tree are one or two colors and they seemlessly carry that theme throughout all the home....not me!

I have decorations that my mom gave me that are older than me. There are decorations that I got when I was a small child. A certain plump little Mrs. Claus gets tucked in the back of the tree every year. Nobody knows she is there but me-and now you! There are decorations from Germany that I collected when I was in high school there. I love my nutcrackers!

Then there are the chickens! Yes, chickens. The first Christmas I knew my husband we went shopping at a mall and stopped at one of those stores that sets up just for the Christmas season with decorations for sale. My husband did not really celebrate Christmas as a child and so with seemingly no idea of what good Christmas decorations were he picked out this crazy rooster to go into my Christmas tree! I really liked him at the time and so after some light protests and a lot of laughter I agreed to put the bird in my tree. Mind you, the thing is about 11 inches tall and about 9 inches wide; not a small little ornament that can be hidden easily. Hiding it was not his intent. Front and center in tree stood the rooster and he got the name Cornelius Cluck.

That Christmas my parents (who really liked my new beau) thought they would play along. They purchased the female counterpart to our rooster and named her Henrietta La Poule which means The Hen in French. We all had a good laugh. Cute, I thought, and I can live with it for one Christmas.
Fast forward 19 years later.......

They look like they have mange or have molted. Their beaks have been glued and re-glued as well as there little chicken feet but they are still hanging in there and my husband simply would not hear of not having them in the tree. I have tried to leave them in the box but he notices immediately and now has the children fighting for their annual appearance in our tree. I am out numbered! So, what's a girl to do? I have embraced the chickens.

The picture of my girls about 6 years ago with their daddy and the
perfect Christmas tree.

I don't know how to make that eclectic tree go with the hutch that is in the same room but this year I am not that worried about it.

 My kitchen has changed from a decidedly country farm kitchen look to something more mature and contemporary and yet traditional. Which did not go with the decorations I used to put in there. So, without spending a bunch of money to do something different I worked with what I had.

 

Our kitchen island that is STILL not done.

Coffee, cocoa and tea station.

My great-grandmother's china tea cups.

Still need to finish window treatments.

Home Goods purchase this year to add some more sparkle!

 

The dining room has been a challenge, as well. I thought it would be easy with the color scheme in there but really hasn't been as easy as I thought. It's kinda like moving into a new home. You make initial plans that often turn out not being how you want to live in it. So, once everything is done you start over. It sounds crazy but I have read of many bloggers that have the same dysfunctional disorder. (Yes, mental disorders probably run in my family!) I am comfortable that how my dining room looks this year is only a test.

The needle point was a gift from a dear friend!

 

And so, this is our Christmas home this year. In every room I have chosen to remind myself, my family, and guests of JOY.

I remember someone explaining once that the anticipation leading up to a thing is part of the joy. Imagine Christmas excitement for a child if there were nothing leading up to it. Just BOOM-here's a gift. Anticipation is part of the whole thing! The reason for my joy; the reason for our celebration is Christ Jesus. All the carols, sparkle, the glitter, the beautiful, treasured things serve to remind me of the beauty that awaits me on that one glorious day when I will stand in the presence of the One who has given me these small glimpses of joy. I anticipate the day when I will be in the arms of the best Gift of all. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

 May Christ be the author of your joy this Christmas!

Linking to Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays #201

Much To Be Thankful For

On my front porch....

Well, for someone who was totally against the idea of Autumn stealing away Summer's glory I sure have enjoyed this season; so much so that I haven't posted anything in over a month! There are several reasons but the long of and short of is that I am a procrastinator. Truly, this is character trait that I have perfected and usually am regretting regularly. I still have not completed the curtains for my kitchen that has been done for months and since I am confessing I will just tell you that I just started them this week. (Don't judge.)

I love the way the tips of the leaves were touched in red, like a paint brush.

We recently purchased a piece of furniture for the kitchen that we are in the process of turning into our rolling island. It was my job to sand it, prime it, and paint it which I did. The problem was that none of it stuck. I peeled the paint off in big pieces off one whole side. I have come the conclusion that the piece must have been waxed and thus no paint will adhere. I know there is a solution and I know I can find it on Pinterest but I have not gotten around to that either.

I have had a terrible time trying to get the house decorated for Autumn in the midst of still trying to find a permanent place for everything. I feel a bit out of sorts but feel that things are finally starting to come together. I have managed to take many pictures as I have enjoyed the leaves change, the days shorten and fireplaces awaken from their long slumber.



What is Autumn without a good bbq? Thankful for smoked pork and my man!

Thankful for my girls and  local fall fairs.

Thankful for backyard fires and roasting marshmallows.

 And in all of this Thanksgiving has snuck (again? is that a word?) up on me and I am reminded that there are seasons for everything and that nothing waits for me. Time comes and goes and takes no days off. I have much to be thankful for. I have my family; that given through natural means and that forged by the work of Christ. I am thankful for my hardworking husband who goes far beyond just providing for us. I am thankful for our home and all that God has put as stewards over. I am thankful for the finished work of Christ. I am thankful for the gift of being able to enjoy beauty in all the things I see.

Proof that occasionally I do bake for him. (Those who have been championing
his cause for a blueberry pie can rest easy.)

Thankful that I live in such a beautiful area!

Bittersweet growing on my arbor-I never planted it!

My back wall.

Happy Thanksgiving!