Thoughts from Alice W.

Let us partake of it together...

There is nothing like a good meal or scrumptious dessert to show and share your love. Even the sheer act of preparing food with another can bring two souls closer and the meal all the more delicious...

If you were here, I would invite you in and offer you some tea...and perhaps something sweet. What dessert do you prefer? I love a good cranberry scone with my tea...but perhaps you would opt for a slice of cake or a brownie? Perhaps you have a more refined palette and would prefer some crème brulée?

Or maybe some Blackberry and Sour Cherry Jam and bread? Like from this recipe card, circa the early 1950's, that I used in this collage piece a few months back...

I wonder how many ladies prepared this jam for family and friends...
 

Regardless of what you would choose, I know that we would have a fine time...filled with laughter, good conversation and the sharing of friendship...

Let us partake of it together.

{"Let us partake of it together" original collage available here on Etsy, $38 US}

And for those of you who might feel brave and want to try this recipe {I haven't myself, so I cannot vouch for it. I am not sure about "paraffin" in cooking...so I will leave that to those in-the-know when it comes to jams} here is the recipe...

BLACKBERRY AND SOUR CHERRY JAM   {circa 1950's} 

4 cups prepared fruit

7 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 bottle fruit pectin

Crush thoroughly about 1 quart fully ripe blackberries

Stem and pit about 1 1/2 pounds fully ripe sour cherries. Chop fine, combine fruits and measure 4 cups into a very large saucepan. Add sugar to fruit in saucepan and mix well. Place over high heat, bring to a full rolling boil and boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and at once stir in bottled fruit pectin. Then stir and skim by turns for 5 minutes to cool slightly, to prevent floating fruit. Ladle quickly into glasses. Paraffin at once.

Makes about 11 6-ounce glasses.

And for those of you interested in more vintage recipe cards...I currently offer them bundled in sets of ten...also currently available on Etsy, $7 US per set.
 

Till next time...

Settling In...

So...we survived the move.....thankfully.  Let's just say...I have a lot of "stuff"...

And now, we are busy settling in. There is a lot of work in moving...which is why it is not my favorite thing to do. But, the peace we have found in this new, little {and I must emphasize the word little here...it is tiny!} home makes it all worthwhile.

I have decided to keep most of my "decorative" items in storage until we move again *hopefully* this summer when we are planning on buying our first place. Since this home is so small {trust me...wait until you see my new studio...err...closet} I decided to keep it simple. Well, as simple as I possibly can. I chose a few favorites to keep out...I do need some pretty things to look at after all...

Like these grain/bean sacks...

and of course all of my religious figures/statues are still with me...

 
I think it will be refreshing to be away from all of the other "stuff" for awhile. It will be like Christmas when I open all of those boxes in the future. And may help me tone down all of the clutter I amass...we'll see... 
 

Meanwhile, Renoir has been busy trying to get adjusted as well.

He couldn't find his favorite "spots" the first week...but then Josh had the idea to put his little bed on top of the dresser in our living room...one of the  main focal points in the room...

So, it's a done deal now...Renoir enjoys his view out of the big window...and I concede to not decorate on the dresser...for now anyways ;)

My next challenge is organizing and setting up that "studio" I mentioned...which will be tricky for me and my St Joshua to fit in together...but I know we will make it work somehow...and then I can begin doing what I love again...

Creating.

I am looking forward to getting back into my old routine soon...and making time to visit all of you lovely ladies. I am sure that you have been up to lots of creative and inspiring things since I have been away.

Here is wishing you all a beautiful weekend ahead {hope it is warmer wherever you are...the wind and snow are blowing here...}

Till next time...

 

A White Christmas...

It's always a bit sad to me how quickly Christmas comes in...

and then before you know it...it's gone...

For the remainder of the year I am left with my warm memories and the hope of Christmas' return the next time around... 

This Christmas was particularly different for us, as we were given the opportunity to move to a new home this January.

We have been hoping and praying for a change in a our living situation this past year, and when a rental home became available in my home town {near my lovely mother}, we were eager to start packing. This home gives us the opportunity to have some peace from the complications of townhouse living, and save up while we wait to buy our own place this summer.

This, however, also meant that we would be packing....rather than decorating, in the month of December...

I tried to hold out.

I tried to convince myself it was okay.

What is one year without Christmas decor? No big deal, right?

Wrong.

I just couldn't do it....and then gave in....to creating a couple of simple vignettes to enjoy during the season.

It started with our "Christmas branch" that Joshua found for me in the woods...and I lightly coated in white...

It was decorated with my rag balls in linen and burlap, silver balls and mercury glass ornaments. 

I was very inspired by the latest issue of Jeanne d'Arc for my holiday decor this year...and chose a simple palette of white, silver, and natural colors...

Since we didn't get out the Christmas lights this year, we opted for the glow of candles instead.

{thanks to Roberta for the beautiful Fleur-de-lys ornament} 

 

Mae was adorned for the season as well...

Opposite from this vignette, I created a simple arrangement of Christmas whimsy on an old bookshelf...

With more candles and my favorite new holiday find {from Marshall's}...

as well as an apothecary jar of gold pine cones topped off with a glittered paper crown...

 
So, in spite of all of the boxes and chaos surrounding us...we were able to keep a bit of Christmas spirit in our home...

Another beautiful Christmas season has come and gone...and a new year now started...

I look forward to all that this year ahead holds...as Josh, Renoir and I move to this "new" temporary home...

Which also means, that I will be away for a bit...getting settled in the new place...so my website and Etsy shop will be closed for the time being. Once I get settled, I will have many new creations and offerings to bring all of you and look forward to getting back into my normal routine...

I wish you all a beautiful new year!

Till next time...

{and if you have yet to visit the latest Romantic Vignette...be sure to stop by and see Allison's beautiful home decorated for Christmas...may bring inspiration for next year!}