HeartRocksHome

So I go to the doctor, and

So I go to the doctor and he says watch your weight and exercise, the eye doctor said eat lots of bright green leafy vegetables, like spinach and kale. I go to the family doctor and says eat lots of calcium for your bones, like dairy products, yogurt, milk, cheese. I go to the oncologist and he says eat lots of vitamin E and A...from carrots and fats and oils,  meats, legumes, soy. I go to the scale and it says...mercy. So does this mean I can't eat that gooey delicious Snickers? How about I wrap a spinach leaf around it and chase it with a glass of milk!?!?

A new old friend

My Dad loves a celebration and surprise. As a young girl - one of four - he was our hero. His name is Jack and Mom and us girls were his 5 Queens. A Jack and 5 Queens. And I might add, we were treated as such.  Isn't he handsome? He died three years ago, but all the good things he taught about fathers and family are alive.
For birthdays he would start celebrating weeks before and on THE  birthday day...we were treated like royality, not with money things but with attention and compliments and just treated with 'specialness'. it was all good. He would start the day at 5:30 a.m. as he went out to milk  waking us up singing and  purring sweetness to us. "Guess what today is...it's a special day for someone...is there any favors that special someone wants today?" and such. All day long we were reminded that it was our special day.
He also loved HIS birthday, he would start several weeks in advance asking if any of us need a little advance on our allowance because 'someones' birthday was just around the corner. He would sing, "Happy Birthday to me...in 10 more days" at the dinner table.  One year we decided to plan a surprise party for him, he got wind of it, and was so excited he helped us plan his surprise birthday party. It was great.
As you might imagine Christmas was a grand affair with secrets and whispers - plotting and planning. Dad would always get something special for Mom. He would think and shop and plan and surprise. One year he bought her a Bernina sewing machine. (Quite a sacrifice financially because we were homesteaders and money was a precious commodity.) I still remember my Mom being so surprised and worried because it wasn't a Singer. Dad reassured her he had done his research and shopping and that this was the best machine. There were classes on how to operate and teach new users about the wonders of this machine and Mom enrolled and learned everything faithfully. She praticed and was determined to get her moneys worth from these classes.
I learned to sew on that machine.  I have heard it called a work horse. It is a good machine. I made many prom dresses and new 'outfits' on that machine. Well.....I am so excited because I now have that same model of Bernina thanks to the wonders of Ebay....
Sewing with the machine is a delight. Not only do I enjoy how perfectly it works, I love that is doesn't have a computer attached and I can just sit down and away I go, I don't have to learn yet another program to work with it. Whew. I also enjoy all that happens in my head when I sit down to sew, the  good memories, the ease of operation, the feel, the familiar sound of the motor, the home-ness that come with sewing with it. Welcome new old friend. Welcome to my home....to my 'magic room'. Welcome

Little wooden folks

We are having a family reunion next week. Pretty exciting. I am one of four girls. We are the Fabulous Four. In the rotation, it is my turn to be the Organizer and Planner (O&P). You are probably thinking what does this have to do with HeartRocksHome. Well, it is these little guys....Aren't they cute? The theme this year is "Standing Tall", and that is where these little fellows come in. We have a nametag lanyard for every family member and each year at the reunion we add something to the lanyard, sort of like a 'scrapbook' on a string of all of our reunions. These are the little guys that will be added this year. But when I saw them all tumbled together in their bucket

I wondered if they might like to hang from a flour sack bag? What do you think? Wouldn't it be cute to have a little name on them and then have them just 'hanging out' to bring a smile to some lucky bag owner. An old-fashioned/country type  name like, Nellie or Hilda. Hum...we will have to do some thinking about this. Keep in touch and we will see. Or I wonder, could we add the new owners' name at time of purchase. Don't know yet, I will have to 'toy' with the idea. Toy....oh, maybe a little handful of them, in a tiny bag for some lucky little vintage/loving girl. A little girl that would love to play with this little dolls just like Grandma and Great Grandma. Oh the ideas - they just tumble around in my brain much like these little clothespin fellows.

Mickey is back

For years I have had a Mickey Mouse watch. I love it. Nice big numbers and pretty fun, I mean, how serious can you be if you wear a Mickey Mouse watch?
After YEARS of wearing...multiple new watchbands and multiple new batteries...the little hole things where the watch band 'hooks' in have become so worn, they are now too big to hold the pins and so the band would 'pop' off. Everytime I put on a long sleeved anything it would catch and I would almost have my Mickey drop to the ground. It just became too scary to wear. I mean,  what if I lost it? I was constantly walking around holding my watch. So alas and alack, we put Mr Mickey in the drawer. We still look at him on occasion but too fearful of losing him to wear 'im.
Then one day at a garage sale I found a wonderful Grandpa watch....
I like Mr Gramps. He is sorta old looking, not old - like neat old...but old like the Gpa wearing this is old and for a Gma (?) to wear it, well, old looking. I have liked this watch. It is big enough ( you know I have big wrists, twice as big as June's) to not make my arm all sweating and strangle-y or is it strangel-y feeling? You know the feeling like it is cutting off the circulation to my hand. That feeling. I like it because I can  see the numbers and tell the time good.  I have been wearing him all summer. Then, Rick went out of town last week and brought me home a surprise...now, before we continue, you have to know Rick is not like a "big surprise" kind of guy. His gift to me is, he is steady, predictable, constant, dependable. I love all those qualities and have done just fine without the "big surprise" kind of thing. Usually when he surprises me it is with a heart rock or a old amber Clorox bottle he found in an abandon house someplace. BUT....drum roll please....he brought home Mickey #2...
Pretty nice, eh? He said he couldn't find the big numbers like on Mickey ''1" but...this is big enough, I can still tell time and we like him just fine...and to think Rick bought it, thought of me, found it, paid for it, brought it home. WOW. We are pleased as punch. He still makes my heart skip a beat, and what a nice surprise to boot. So if you see me with a silly grin, and Mr Mickey you will know I am thinking
of a  really really nice Mr Steady and the BIG surprise he got for me...me...little ole me. (hummm okay, so I am not so little but I am surprised)....and thrilled.
Life is good at the Mc home folks, life is good.

Sometimes inspiration comes in going to bed...

Well, not actually MY bed, but in rummaging thru the local Goodwilly and seeing this single sheet....
all by its lonely self. No bottom sheet and no pillowcases,  so only $.99. Now that is a lot of really wide fun eyelet lace. And so onto the arm and past the cash register and out the door. Hurry home to become the perfect thing for "Princess Aprons". Having 7 granddaughters, makes one very aware of the Princess world. And isn't this a great way to introduce them into cooking and all the fun of homemaking and wifery AND the love for all things vintage!

The twill tape order hasn't arrived so going 'strapless' for the time being..but once the straps are on and I have a visiting Princess we will model her in the new apron Grandma made.

The Candy Bar

I never, well, I can't say never because that isn't really true - but I hardly ever, well, maybe that isn't true either, but let's just put it this way I don't buy near as many candy bars as I'd like. Most the time, I want one or see one, I don't buy it. For one simple reason, I would eat it. It isn't that I can't afford it, or I don't want it, or I think it is unhealthy. I just plain and simple would eat it! Don't want a fatter body. I absolutely love candy bars. I have a couple favorites but I'll eat anything. My favorites usually involve chocolate, carmel and nuts. Yesterday I felt a little sorry for myself, being in Walmart on Saturday, and all....AND I was on a service oriented mission and so felt I could justify a candy bar, after all, I kind of deserved it, didn't I? And I guess the 'thing' that really tipped me over the edge is I was buying a couple candy bars for Mary. You know standing there looking at them, fondling them, thinking about them, imagining what SHE might like, analyzing which ones were the best, I remembered she likes KitKats (not my favorite, but like I said, I will eat one.) SO....I bought ME an almond snickers, which happens to be one of my favorite. I didn't eat it on the way home, no, no, no. I waited...got all my stuff in. Finally the time to eat...oh, yum....and it is like 12:45 and so I am pretty hungry which makes the eating of it even more delightful. No way am I eating a sandwich first - and losing the full enjoyment of eating that puppy when I am hungry. And to make it even more delightful if that is even possible....it was hot yesterday and the said candy bar is sorta soft. Now-  not all melty and stuck to the wrapper soft, no, it was just soft, like not hard, like ready to melt in your mouth soft. So not only is the tasting experience the best, the tactic is also the best. Okay...I need to savor every bite. So....I decided to spead it out..not just gobble it up like a greedy fat monster. I take one bite...oh, my heavens, it is even better than I remember. Soft, chocolately, and with a big almond as a surprise party in your mouth sort of thing! I decided to drag this out as long as possible. Put some groceries away - take another yummy bite - check email - take another smallish bite - putter tidying up - another bite - check the mail - another bite - but - and this is important, this bite  I avoid the last almond saving it for the last bite, like Jilly would do. Then I go to garage, do some other stuff, NOT EATING LUNCH, I don't want to pollute the delightful taste in my mouth. Now....I go to take the last delicious, yummy, nut filled bite....and....I CAN'T FIND IT. The last yummy bite - where did I set it down, the bedroom, the bathroom, by the computer, in the garage, downstairs, in Ricks room? WHAT! I can't find it...check the garbage, yip, the wrapper is there...with NO tasty  delicious soft last bite inside. This gives an entire new meaning to the word - search! You know like search the scriptures. I look for an hour...my mouth perched, my stomach waiting, my body wanting. NOPE.
Still haven't found it...and you are thinking, well, you probably ate it....believe me, I would know if I ate it! I has disappeared - for now. Don't worry folks, I am still looking! and my mouth is ready at any unexpected moment.

I am so sorry...I'll do better

I have a friend Mary Y. We first met her when we lived in town. Her husband was the custodian for our church building. It was their second marriage and they were the happiest, cutest couple. It was like life had dealt both of them a bad hand and then after much tribulations they found each other and the Lord all at once. They lived a meager but happy life. They had retired friends they went fishing and camping with and they were just cute. Terry died about 10+ years ago and we moved and life marched on. Then I re-met Mary in 2004. She lived on  pennies and nickels. She has poor health and so doing much of anything was hit and miss but her heart was absolutely pure.
Her Grandson found a girlfriend and wanted to move in with her. Mary couldn't afford to live alone and so he said she could came along. Well, that lasted less than one summer and the girlfriend kicked her out. Mary had no place to go and so went to Walla Walla to live with a daughter (step-daughter? granddaughter, daughter-in-law, I don't really know, just Lynette). That didn't last long, and I lost contact with her. Couldn't find her. Then one day a letter arrived and she had been moved into an assisted living in Walla Walla. Doing pretty good. Frail. Sad because they wouldn't let her keep her dog. I cried with her and tried to talk about the good things in her life. At the facility they take all her money to take care of her (I think it is social security from Terry) except for $50. Well, her kids have decided they aren't going to pay to bury her and so they take that $50 from her and told her until she has enough to bury herself she'll just have to make do.(Don't you kind of wonder what they are doing with that $50?, do you think they are REALLY putting it in the bank....hum...I have my own opinion on that.  They are not nice people, in my opinion. Now...I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, and I know Mary gets confused on some things....but STILL!)
So I have sent her care packages every once in a while or so. I always include $20 to spend on things she needs. I've just get some things I can think of she might like blistex, fingernail polish, phone cards, animal crackers (she loves animal crackers) lotion, Kleenex...stuff.  She always writes a wobbly shaky thank you I can hardly read and is so appreciative.
Yesterday she called - only had a few minutes left on her phone card I had sent her, so I said, "Hang up, I'll call you right back." She was in tears, "Arlene I don't want to beg you but I am at my wits end. I need some glycerin suppositores and they are $2.58 and some A&D ointment it is $1.47. If you will get them and send them to me, somehow I will pay you back including postage."  Does that just make your heart break?
I haven't send her a care package for a while. I felt bad she felt so desperate. So I went to Walmart on Saturday. (I must love her, huh?) Oh, I had fun filling my basket with things for her. I said in the phone converstaion if you had $20 what else would you get? Bless her heart. She is so sick of being so poor and can't drive, has a POOPY family. I know you get what you raise, but I don't think she knew 'no different' (that is how she talks) when she was raising kids, know what I mean? Oh, I know she sometimes watches soap operas, and I've even know her to be foolish with her money and buy those trashy newspapers at the check out stand. SO WHAT?!?!?
Two things:
1) I think the Lord has a soft spot for widows and we better pay attention. Believe me, I won't go so long between care packages again.
2) I hope I am never that desperate and if I am, will  you kids promise to straighten the wrinkles out on the sheets over my feet and to buy me suppositories without me begging?
Oh, I hope the Lord knows He can use me...please don't let me mess up when I am suppose to be helping someone!?!? I have such a fear of being such a bumble bum and missing opportunities to bless someone's life.
I get so caught up in MY life, and my worries, and my concerns, and my things, and me me me.
I am teaching about gifts of the spirit a little in connection with Soloman. He had quite the gift...understanding heart and wisdom. We are told to seek earnestly the BEST gifts. I am going to be more earnest in my seeking the gift of understanding and DOING heart, so I don't miss opportunities to bless others. I am so so so blessed!

No pattern = freedom

For the creative process to really work for me...the first requirement is to NOT have a pattern. Now, that doesn't mean I don' t LOOK at patterns and ideas. In fact, everywhere I go I am looking for ideas and patterns and noticing how things are put together BUT, I find if I try to exactly copy an idea or use a pattern, I become stiff.
This point was brought home this week while I Grandma sat a couple of cute girls while Momma was bringing us a new baby sister. These Granddaughters are VERY creative, as are most children. Anticipating they would come stay with Grandma for a bit when the new baby came, I had bought some additional craft supplies (like, good grief, I needed more).  I showed them a couple ideas of what to do/make. It took them about 5 seconds to come up with BETTER ideas of what to do and make. They were incredible, so free and spontaneous. NO PATTERN.  "A" said to me, "Grandma we have better ideas, huh?"
Indeed. So being like children not afraid to color outside the lines, is very fun and a vital part of the creative process for me. At one point I said..."How many things can you think of to make with these." It was like a trigger that set them free and away they went. The same applies to me. How many things can you think of to make with.....these....the 'these' for this season is flour sacks. BUT it could apply to any material.  I love the freedom that comes with just letting my mind and ideas come and go freely. No mistakes, no goofy ups because anything is allowed! Doesn't that just give you permission to go...be creative...have FUN!?!? It does me.

Mission statement: FUN

Not that I am real business and like, planning to become a big company or something...so I need one of those mission statements with a 5 bulleted banner hanging overhead when you walk into my establishment, but today I almost lost my focus. I do need to have a statement to help me remember and stay on track. What brought this all about is,  today, while searching the internet for something, I came across a women who has made 584  handbags and sold them on ebay as a powerseller. She sells them for close around $100. Yes, she keeps track and numbers each one and has a  3 paragraph description to explain just how lovely they are. They are really are  lovely, they have nicely coordinated fabrics, and beautiful expensive trims etc. I loved them. I looked and studied each one.  Then..........I thought about my flour sacks.  I almost lost it. I have stewed and second guessed myself all day. THEN I remembered, I am doing this for FUN. I am taking something that is headed for the landfill and turning into something FUN and useful. I am using all vintage and second items and repurposing them. That is  FUN. It is fun to create and see what I can come up with. It is fun to see how many ways I can use this simple sack. It is fun. AND...My target comsumer is well, she is...FUN. She is the Mom headed to the park and needs a bag to toss all the kids things in, the swim suit and treats and sippy cups and yes, even the kitchen sink aka Purell. She is the women headed out the door for a road trip with hubby and needs a bag to put her 'stitchies' in.  She is the gal headed for the flea market and needs a bag to keep her cash - camera in. She is the FUN.  She loves soft and worn fabrics, she likes things that have a history, she will chuckle at something that is  - clever. No high fashion - stuffy - uptight women would be seen with one of these bags. BUT that is really really okay. Whew, I almost lost it - but then I remembered FUN...just in the knick of time.