Tangible Memories

Much like traumatic stress, good memories can be created by and evoked from a scent, a touch, a song, an item, etc. That "safety blanket" you carried as a child - I bet its buried in storage somewhere and every now and then when you come across it. Then, all of those memories you associate with it emerge.  Grand made me a wonderful Holly Hobby quilt - that I still use and a dress for every holiday that I can remember. She made curtains and tablecloths and dresses and so much more. When I was very young, I thought that my grandmother ate thread.

Well, I have decided that Grand's 1951 Singer will be in the closet no more. For $60 and a delightful conversation with Mr. Stan at the Singer retailer, she hums again! And you say $60 is a lot of money - you're right! But then I think... over the last 10 months alone, we have spent over $300 for simple alterations that I could have done at home! And since I am gearing up to de-bachelor the bachelor pad & revamp home... I feel that my $60 investment will quickly pay off. (Now, if only I can figure out how to use all of those fancy attachments like the zipper foot and the zig-zag attachment.)

You may suggest that I update and go with a more streamlined model. I will tell you just like Grand would,  "They don't make them like they used to." All of the parts in my machine are metal and can be replaced. The new machines have plastic internal parts... and once one breaks, they become very difficult to replace and repair. (And I learned that from Mr. Stan who has sold and repaired Singers for his entire life and he's no spring chicken.) So if you don't do fancy machine embroidery or take your machine everywhere, I'd say  stick with the classics. 

After I brought my machine home Saturday and Trey hauled it upstairs, I wanted to test it out. After digging through the storage tubs, I knew what I was going to make. Below is the simple tote big enough for gym shoes and a running outfit. Or it could happily house the cross-stitch project I have been working on for what seems like forever! Admittedly, the handles were a major headache. 

Maybe you don't have something like my Singer, but maybe something like a musical instrument, a piece of a china, or a photo that could be displayed someone as a conversation piece. (My paternal grandmother collected salt and pepper sets; she had hundreds of them.) Don't waste the good memories, you may only have them for so long.

happy day.
lee

Easy refrigerator pickles!

So after making and eating A LOT of pickles over my years, I have decided to change things up from Grand's recipes. But there is one thing she was definitely right about: small cucumbers make the best pickles (i.e. pickling cukes, salad cukes, English cukes). Not those big fat "hog feeders" that grew too long on the vine that you find on the grocery store. 

When the seeds (or guts) are too watery or large they don't keep well, absorb flavor well, or stay crunchy. See the cucumbers towards the top of the jar? THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT!!!!  Now... If you look at the cucumbers at the bottom of the jar, those are the kind of cucumbers you want for awesome pickles. 

Now, I'm sure y'all are saying get to the recipe... The thing is I don't have a recipe; I never make the same thing twice (or at least not the same way). The ingredients in the jar above are fresh minced garlic, fig balsamic creme vinegar, apple cider vinegar, local honey, sea salt, fresh ground black pepper, water, and of course, cucumbers. I do follow a general set of steps below: 

1. Slice cucumbers in disks approximately 1/4" thick. Really you can make them any shape you want. I just like discs. 
2. Pack tightly in a jar. The one above I bought from HomeGoods for $1.99.. I think they sell them at Wal-Mart too. (I avoid at all costs hence the "I think".) 
3. Mince fresh garlic & place in jar. Add salt, pepper, & honey to taste. 
4. Then add approximately 1/2 cup of vinegar. I prefer champagne or white wine vinegar. 
5. Then top the jar off with water. 
6. Seal, shake & refrigerate.

You can add in any herbs you prefer or any type of vinegar you prefer. Essentially, all you need cucumbers and a brine. You have something unique, homemade, and delicious in 15 minutes that lasts for months (if refrigerated).

Grand used apple cider vinegar, a cinnamon stick or two, cloves, and sugar. They were delicious and still are! The flavors were the perfect compliment to Thanksgiving dinner. 

happy eating.

"there is a first time for everything"

"There is a first time for everything" or so my grandmother, Grand, said. I'm new to this blogging thing. I feel that a blog may be the ideal avenue to share many things across so many genres, since... well, Facebook is not the ideal forum so many people view it as.

Firstly, Grand was a wonderful woman before the Alzheimer's took over the woman we love so dearly. Yes, I changed verb tenses within the sentence; I have committed grammar taboo. She grew up a farmer's daughter who became a Navy wife, buried a husband, and beat cancer. While Grand is still alive and with us physically, her mind is not; she is not the same person she used to be. There is a first time for everything; including: her hair "unset". She taught and inspired me so profoundly over the years. 



Secondly, let's be real. Grand would consider "Grandeur" to be a "fancy word". My blog isn't going to be about a $500 pair of stilettos or a $2,000 handbag. Its more sensible chic... maybe I should have named my blog that instead. 


I have no desire to transform this blog into a philosophical tribute. Stay tuned for yummy recipes, neat do it yourself ideas, and budget-friendly fashion ideas. However, I suppose everything is subjective. 


happy day...