Sleeve Ironing Board

Before I married and still lived at home with my mom, I had the advantage of using all of her sewing supplies. When I married there where some of her tools I really missed, one of them was mom's sleeve ironing board. A sleeve ironing board is handy for pressing small detail work, but is especially handy for pressing sleeve seams, as the sleeve fits right over the board!

My mom knew that I missed using her sleeve board and decided she would like to give me one for my birthday (which was back in January). She found this challenging as sleeve boards are not commonly available today. JoAnn's had a sort of sleeve board, but it was not very sturdy. Mom's board was purchased back in the '80's and was made of wood. So mom began looking on-line and found this delightful board on ebay! As you can see in the photo above it is wood and has a neat "Handy Ann" stamp. I would guess it may be from the '50's or '60's.

It came with a simple cream cover and no padding, so before presenting me with this lovely gift on my birthday mom made a new cover from calico and added padding.

Soon after my birthday in January I was not feeling up to sewing and did not have a chance to use this wonderful gift for while. But now that I am sewing again I am enjoying my sleeve ironing board immensely! Not only is is functional, it is pretty and vintage!

Last Friday..

Last Friday was a beautiful sunny day, and one that I will always remember! Adam took the day off from work so that he could take me to my ultrasound appointment. It was so amazing seeing our little baby's heart beating, her little body being so perfectly formed. At one point she lifted her little hand and spread all five of her fingers. I cannot wait to hold that little hand in September. : ) And yes, I am using female pronouns, because our sweet little baby is a girl!

Later Friday afternoon Adam and I decided to head out to an estate sale we had seen advertised. Our main interest in going was a piano they had mentioned in the advertisement. From the description we assumed it would be out of our price range, but thought we would look just for fun. Much to our amazement the piano was priced at $95 and included the matching bench. We were so pleased. : ) Afterwards Adam discovered that the piano was made in 1985, the same year we were born.
 

We purchased the piano and our families helped move it to our house. It has such a lovely sound! Adam plays the piano by ear beautifully and I have so enjoyed sitting by the piano in the evenings while he plays hymns. I also play, but I am very out of practice. However I am now attempting to regain what I have lost over time. I imagine that our little baby is enjoying all of the lovely music and I hope she will play the piano herself someday. It does seem providential that the LORD provided this beautiful piano the day we discovered we were expecting a little girl, and she did make a point of showing us her lovely little hand. : )

"Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord." Ephesians 5:19

Hand Embroidered Dresser Scarves

Earlier this week I was looking through my collection of dresser scarves, to select one for the top of my dresser. I only recently retrieved my dresser from my mom's house, time and weather had prohibited us from collecting it sooner.

I really do love dresser scarves they add such a "homey" touch to a bedroom. I have a few antique dresser scarves, and then three that I hand embroidered in my single days. Each one had been carefully tucked away in my hope chest.

Currently I have the mauve embroidered dresser scarf on my dresser. I was hoping to place the coordinating blue embroidered scarf on Adam's dresser, but since he has his 1929 "Pa Kettle" radio displayed there I thought it best to wait until I had some clear vinyl to protect my handiwork.  For those of you who have watch the "Ma and Pa Kettle" movies, Adam has a radio that looks just like Pa's radio that seemed to always play "Hold That Tiger". Thankfully Adam's radio does not have that problem. : )

I certainly had fun embroidering these three dresser scarves. On a quiet Sunday afternoons it was always a pleasure to work on my current embroidery project, while sipping a cup of tea. And now I am so pleased to have things I have made sprinkled throughout our home.

And to close I'd like to share a scripture that I would often reflect on while working on projects for my hope chest. In fact I taped this scripture to the inner lid of my hope chest the day I purchased it.

'"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."' Jeremiah 29:11

A New Chapter

Spring is finally coming to upstate New York. Outside my kitchen window tulips and daffodils are growing larger and greener despite the snow we had last week (one has even blossomed). The maple trees are crimson with tiny blossoms that are now falling across the driveway. And the delightful call of geese flying overhead fills me with joy.

With so many signs of new life around me, I find myself contemplating more and more another new life. A dear little baby that I am so excited to meet this September. Now that I am almost 19 weeks along, I am thrilled to feel the little baby kicking within me. Each time I visit JoAnn Fabrics I am inevitably drawn to the baby yarns, wondering if I should purchase a skein of pink or blue yarn. : ) I am working with some cream yarn for now.

Adam and I are so excited and blessed to begin this new chapter of life. We pray that the LORD will guide and direct us.

My Jesus, I Love Thee

 

 

My Jesus, I Love Thee

 

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

-William R. Featherson 

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 

1 John 4:10

Banana Bread

"Best Ever Banana Bread Recipe"

from Gold Medal Flour

1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3-4 medium)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Directions:

1
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 2 (8X4 inch) loaf pans.
2
In large bowl, mix sugar and butter. Add eggs, bananas (increase recipe by one banana), buttermilk and vanilla; beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
3
Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and nuts (if using) just until moistened. Pour batter into pans.
4
Bake for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool about 1 hour before slicing.

Over the weekend I baked a loaf of banana bread, one of Adam's favorites. Over the years I have tried several different recipes, but have to agree that this is the "best".

"Be Still, My Soul"

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(photo source) 

 "Be Still, My Soul"

 Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side. 
 Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; 
 leave to your God to order and provide; 
 in every change God faithful will remain. 
 Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend 
 through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. 

 Be still, my soul: your God will undertake 
 to guide the future, as in ages past. 
 Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake; 
 all now mysterious shall be bright at last. 
 Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know 
 the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below. 

 Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on 
 when we shall be forever with the Lord, 
 when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, 
 sorrow for forgot, love's purest joys restored. 
 Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, 
 all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.  

-Katharina A. von Schlegel 

Over the years "Be Still, My Soul" has become my favorite hymns.

The comforting words and beautiful music are such an inspiration!

May you have a blessed day!

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10