I need at least thirty minutes...

...to get dressed for work. I work as an interpreter of history, specifically the 1790's. The clothing I wear is authentic, not a costume. I love the clothing. It's one of the perks of the job. You don't do this for the money. You do it for the love of history, 'cause the paycheck is "hardly enough to keep you in stockings and fans".

#1 - shift and stockings

#2 - stays (corset) and pocket (purse)

#3 - first petticoat

#4 - second petticoat

#5 - work apron, neckerchief, and jacket--elbows covered 'cause I'm a lady

#6 - shoes with buckles

#7 - cap

#8 - cape--pinned, tied, and ready for work

If only

Ah, if only this had been my ambition when I was young. Who knows where it could have led? I coulda been somebody. I coulda been a contender. But better late than never, I always say.

We in the acorn household love apple pie with brown sugar crumb topping. And my most favorite recipe came from here. Thank you again, Melissa.

They do look funny

I was really honored to be asked to do a guest post over at Joann's Ostriches Look Funny (and other Observations). I love that girl. She writes like a very hip Erma Bombeck, honest and witty. Her posts make my husband and I roar with laughter. Hmmm...Erma Bombeck...I'm dating myself. Anyways, I'm over there today.

Count-enance

"I write according to the thoughts I feel.
When I think upon my God, my heart is so full of joy
that the notes dance and leap from my pen;
And since God has given me a cheerful heart,
it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit."
Franz Joseph Haydn


Counting Blessings


259 - windswept lassies who find even more treasure for their mamas
260 - sons-in-law who take lovely photos

261 - "Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness." Jane Austen

262 - heirloom arc blacks - fairy tale apples in my opinion

263 - daring to be different or fashionistas

264 - early morning takeaway




Joining Ann today

Spitting image

Cray-pas on pastel paper
The day I came up out of the water,
The veil fell away,
My face a brightly mirror washed.
So remind me now how attitudes are important,
They can be seen.
Do they reflect what I value?
I want to look like You.


Joining Emily today

Making Me Nuts

If you would like to make an autumn nut garland for yourself, it's really easy. You'll need a variety of nuts. I threw in some cinnamon sticks and small gold jingle bells for fun. You also need a craft drill, a needle and something to string them with. Any type of string or cord will do. I used spun wool because I like the warm, fuzzy organic look of it. Most importantly, use a vice.


Not being the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to tools, I tried to drill a hole in the nut while simply holding it in my hand. Heck, it's a tiny little drill and a tiny little nut...how hard could it be? HARD! The nut flew across the room with the force of a bullet shot from a gun. Thinking the first time must have been a fluke, I tried it several more times this way before I realized it wasn't going to work. Like I've said before, I'm a hands-on learner. I'm fortunate I didn't drill THROUGH my hand.


Hence, the good vice. It helped me get the job done in no time. And it really was a lot of fun.





For more crafty goodness, check out the knitted acorns made by Cheryl at Time to Craft. She is always making cool crafts with her children. Her gift for photography is amazing.

Garnering

"The foolish fears of what might pass.
I cast them all away
Among the clover-scented grass,
Among the new-mown hay,
Among the rustling of the corn,
Where drowsy poppies nod,
Where ill thoughts die and good are born -
Out in the fields with God!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning


Counting blessings


252 - autumn rambles

253 - found on the autumn ramble

254 - the smell of wood smoke

255 - leaves as big as your head

256 - good vices

257 - nut garlands

258 - stringing blood oranges and bay leaves on scarlet thread



Joining Ann today

Praying with the right side of your brain

Praying in Color, by Sybil MacBeth (Paraclete Press) is another book from my color-coded shelf (heh, heh). I haven't finished reading this yet, but so far, I'm enjoying it. Those of you who've read my blog would know that this title would immediately catch my attention. I read the back cover - it said, "Maybe you love color (I answered yes...). Maybe you hunger to know God better (yes...). Maybe you are a visual or kinesthetic learner (uh-huh...), a distractible or impatient soul (yes, yes..)". That was enough for me...right-click-->Add to Cart. I'm finding this book to be very affirming.

I'm a doodler. I doodle in my journal. I doodle in the margins of my Bible. Years ago, a very well-meaning older saint scolded me for this, for marring the Holy Word. I wasn't marring - I was illuminating! It helps me concentrate. And personally, I don't think the Lord minds :) So imagine my excitement when I found a book that encouraged creative expression as a tool to help you delve deeper into your prayer relationship with God.

I have a stack of these prayer journals, and I like to imagine that one day maybe my grandchildren and great grandchildren will see a written and illustrated journey of faith, prayers prayed, thanks given--and find their old granny's inability to spell hi-larious (no spell-checker with pen and ink).

One parting quote. I read it this morning in a devotional I use.
"But why do we have color? It seems to serve no practical purpose--at least none that scientists can discern. And why are there photoreceptors in our eyes that enable us to see it?
I believe that God's goodness is the point of His creation. He is 'good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works' (Psalm 145:9). He colored the world for our childlike delight. He's like that, you know."
David Roper


Joining Emily today

From this day forward...

"I would like to maintain that thanks is the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." G. K. Chesterton


Counting blessings

247 - celebrating 29 years of marriage...you're still the cream in my coffee, sweetheart...happy anniversary

248 - new life that reaps a harvest

249 - raw wool

250 - learning the drop spindle...thanks, Deb

251 - apple season



Joining Ann today

When you can't sleep....

...you can always grab a book. Or maybe a whole bookcase full. And group the books by color. I LOVE color. Actually, I stole borrowed the idea from this gorgeous blog.

Now's a good time to mention that I have a patient family who will occasionally indulge me when I get an idea to do something like this late at night.

It was quite a job and took us several hours to complete. Halfway through, I was glared at more than once, and received the answer "I DON'T CARE!!" to the innocent question, "Do you think this is dark brown or purple?". But since I knew we could all sleep in the next day, I only felt a little bit guilty. And besides, we found some books we forgot that we had.

In the end, we were all happy with the result.

Blessed October

What is more cheerful now, in the fall of the year, than an open-wood fire? Do you hear those little chirps and twitters coming out of that piece of applewood? Those are the ghosts of the robins and blue-birds that sang upon the bough when it was in blossom last spring. In summer whole flocks of them come fluttering about the fruit trees under the window: so I have singing birds all the year round.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich


Counting blessings

240 - collecting kindling

241 - first fire of the season

242 - tea tins

243 - vegemite on toast

244 - raindrops on roses (sorry, I couldn't resist)

245 - an autumnal project (soon to be revealed)

246 - glueing old stamps into my journal



Joining Ann today