"The lesson [Henry David Thoreau] had taught himself, and which he tried to teach others, was summed up in the one word 'Simplify.' That meant simplify the outward circumstances of your life, simplify your needs and your ambitions; learn to delight in the simple pleasures which the world of Nature affords. It meant also, scorn public opinion, refuse to accept the common definitions of success, refuse to be moved by the judgment of others. And unlike most who advocate such attitudes, he put them into practice." (Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau--Edited and with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch, Bantam Books, 1962, P. 1)

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Grandpa's Funeral

Grandpa's funeral was this afternoon, and it couldn't have been nicer. He had a military farewell, here at the Tahoma National Cemetery. He will be buried very close to my dad, and we were able to put flowers on Dad's grave today, too. What a blessing to have such a reverent and beautiful place for our fathers.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Grandpa is Gone

Grandpa passed away early Monday morning. What a blessing that he was here on Father's Day, as were relatives from far away. How we cherish this four-generation picture captured that last time we were all together. Rest in peace, Grandpa.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Monday, August 20, 2007

Oops! It's a Wall-Hanging

I realized one day that most everything that I know how to do, I learned by making mistakes. (Kind of sobering when applied to mothering. But that's a topic for another day.) This month's big boo-boo was hand-quilting with embroidery floss instead of quilting thread. I thought colored floss would make this baby quilt especially cute, which it did. But it also made it too delicate for regular use, which I learned after quilting around the edges of all 241 patches. So I sewed loops to one end and christened it a wall-hanging.

This one is to decorate the nursery of the next baby in the family, due in January. I guess I'll call it The Wall Hanging Quilt. (And I will be making another baby quilt before the baby comes. With quilting thread, for sure.)

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Neighborhood Park

Here is a favorite park not far from our house. Isn't it inviting?

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Fresh Corn and Beet Greens

This morning we traveled down to Centralia to pick blackberries on a friend's farm. We came back with a trunk full of produce and feasted on fresh corn and beet greens tonight. What a blessing!

Friday, August 17, 2007

Three Recipes Using White Sauce

Thank you to my mom for teaching me how to make white sauce. Here is my favorite version:

White Sauce
In a medium saucepan whisk together 6 tablespoons cooking oil with 6 tablespoons flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat until bubbly. Add 1 12-oz. can evaporated milk, and 12 ounces of water (using the empty milk can to measure the water). Whisk constantly until mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat.

Here are three recipes we love, all of which are white-sauce based:

Tuna Noodle Casseroodle
Cook a 12-oz. package of noodles according to package directions and drain. Make white sauce. Combine noodles with white sauce and one can tuna.
Serve with peas.

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
Cook a 12-oz package of macaroni according to package directions and drain. Make white sauce. Combine macaroni with white sauce. Pour into buttered casserole dish and top with grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Hamburger Gravy
Fry 1 lb. ground beef. Make white sauce in the pan with the ground beef. Serve over mashed potatoes.

These are three of my favorite comfort foods. I hope you will be comforted by them as well.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Blackberries and Milk

Last evening's walk was down this road to our neighborhood gas-station/store, where we bought a gallon of milk. On the way back, we picked blackberries, which are abundant now--and sweet, mostly. This morning I dined on fresh blackberries with my yogurt. Such a treat was well worth the new scratches on my arms. (There is a slight price to be paid for wild blackberries, after all.)

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Emma's Double Wedding Ring Quilt

Today I got my Great Grandmother Emma's double wedding ring quilt up on the wall on display, finally. Now it can be appreciated for the work of art that it truly is. What an inspiration to a fledgling quilter such as I. Thank you, Great Grandma. (Click on the picture above to see our pretty powder room, newly green.)

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Spring Green Dining Room

Kate and I painted the dining room today, then collapsed. Who knew that making things beautiful was so much work?

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Snacking, No Charge

We snacked on wild blackberries while out walking this afternoon. This years are the biggest I have ever seen. What a deal!

Monday, August 6, 2007

Trail Reopened!

One of our favorite neighborhood trails has been closed for months. Today it was open, and we discovered a new drain, seen here, and that the mounds of dirt that had been piled up for months had been planted in wildflowers. What a nice surprise.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Having Enough Means Having Enough to Share

We have a practice in our church which I think is so simple and effective--and brilliant--that I want to share it. Once a month one day is set aside for all of us to stop eating for 24 hours. We then gather the money we would have spent on food for that day, and contribute it to help those in need.

We do not need to have abundance before we can assist others financially. The beauty of this practice is, we come to realize that simply having enough means having enough to share.

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Ahhhh . . . Europe

One more amazing post from Jane at Yarnstorms today. Here is a mini-vacation for you.

Elements of Traditional Neighborhood Design


Here are some elements of Traditional Neighborhood Design in our community, which I captured while on our walk this morning: porches,
parks,
sidewalks,
and garages in alleys, rather than in front of the homes.

Thursday, August 2, 2007