Civilization in a Cup: A Tea Journey Begins

There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

So, guess what's in my tea chest? Lots of organic tea from Two Leaves and a Bud - the Colorado tea company with the see-through tea sachets. Over the next few weeks, I will be reviewing a variety of teas from Two Leaves and a Bud and will move out of my Black Tea Comfort Zone to explore green teas and herbal teas. This must be how Marco Polo felt . . .

Today I'm starting with two familiar teas: Assam and Darjeeling. But, before the kettle is even going you notice the unique packaging. Obviously these are not the dusty tea bags found in many office breakrooms - these are tea sachets enclosed in a see-through envelope. If you haven't tried tea in a sachet you must - the sachets are made of a silky fabric and are constructed so that the leaves have plenty of room to expand. Again, very different from the flat, compact bags your grandmother used! Not all sachets are created equal, though, and one very exciting thing about TL&AB is that the tea in the sachets is the same premium, organic tea offered in their loose tea cylinders.

So, I'm off to enjoy a yummy cup of tea and will leave you with some tea inspiration: Paul Gauguin's Still Life with Teapot painted in 1896 and now found in the Metropolitan Museum's European collection.

Disclosure: I received free tea samples as shown above to review. Two Leaves and a Bud did not compensate me for reviewing their product beyond providing me with samples.

It's the Great Pumpkin [Bread], Charlie Brown!

If you were Linus sitting in that pumpkin patch waiting and waiting for the Great Pumpkin, what would you be thinking? I would be thinking about all the yummy things that could be made with a patch full of pumpkins! (Actually, I might be too afraid to think . . . the pumpkin patch at night can be a little frightening . . .) So, what's your favorite pumpkin dish? Pie? Toasted seeds? At our house, pumpkin bread wins easily. It's moist and a little spicy and is great with tea! I don't always like breads/cakes made with vegetable oil - they often taste like oil, but this recipe is really good and the flavor is all pumpkin and spice. It's a great busy-day baking project as it takes only 10 minutes or so to prepare (obviously longer to bake . . .).

This recipe makes two 9x5" loaves - or one 9x5" plus three or five smaller loaves (depending on the pan sizes). In other words, you will have more than enough to share. It makes a great gift because you can give away the large loaf and one or two small loaves, and still have a little loaf to keep (much better for you than making a layer cake or pie as a gift which leaves you as empty-handed as Linus).

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups sugar (don't panic! this makes many, many servings)
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs lightly beaten
• 1 (16 ounce) can pumpkin (just plain unsweetened pumpkin, NOT pie filling)
• 3 1/2 cups self-rising flour*
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2/3 cup water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour baking pans (or use Baker's Joy).
2. In mixer, or by hand, mix sugar and oil.
3. At low speed, add eggs and pumpkin. Mix well.
4. In separate large bowl, blend remaining dry ingredients.
5. Alternately add dry ingredients and water to pumpkin mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
6. Pour into prepared pans and bake 40 to 50 minutes - possibly less with small pans, or more with large pans. Bread is done with the sides pull away from the pan (you can also test with a toothpick/cake pick as you would for any cake).
7. Place pans on cooling rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely.

Leah's Notes: I often make this without using an electric mixer - it's easy to whisk by hand. If using glass baking dishes, lower the temperature to 325. If using silicone pans, increase the baking time by 10+ minutes. While this is yummy all by itself, it's very good with pumpkin butter or turn it into an honest-to-goodness (emphasis on goodness!) cake with cream cheese frosting.

* If using all-purpose flour, add 2 teaspoons baking soda, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon baking powder.

On final thought on the pumpkin bread - it makes your house smell festive!!

Old Teapots Never Die . . .

You probably expected some clever end to that phrase, but there isn't one. Teapots don't lend themselves to puns as well as old soldiers . . . the best I could do was they just steep away or they just break away. Perhaps you can think of the definitive ending, if so please pass it on!

So where is this leading? To my old teapots and their new home - high in a mulberry tree! As an avid tea drinker, I love teapots and tea sets. Despite normally being a 'never-breaks-a-dish' girl, my teapots have a higher-than-average break rate. (And I should qualify that last statement by saying the only one of our dishes I've broken was the gravy boat - of course, it wouldn't be a bread plate, would it?) It's hard to say what my problem is with the teapots. It's usually the lid that chips or breaks, which is odd because you would expect it to be the spout. Once it was the spout (and that was on a Brown Betty, known for its sturdiness!) and once it was the whole pot. But, twice is was just the lid and my husband thought of a very clever way to use the lid-less pots: as bird houses!

I love this idea because I was very attached to these teapots - one was a wedding present and the other was purchased in England and brought safely home in my checked luggage (you'd be amazed at the things that have traveled in my checked bags over the years . . . but that's another story).

The pots have been hanging in the mulberry tree for almost three years now; we clean them at the end of the season with the other birdhouses. They're very pretty during the winter months when the tree is bare. And, for some strange reason I haven't broken any pots since we put these up - one of those weird coincidences like never getting a red light when you want to apply lipstick . . .

I'd love to know what you do with your broken dishes . . . just in case my new gravy boat has a mishap at Thanksgiving!

Can I Get My Own Invisible Fence?!

As Robert Frost famously quoted, "good fences make good neighbors" - and though his fence was really a stone wall, the same can be true of any fence, even an invisible one.

Several dogs on our street have invisible fences and as someone whose heart pounds when an unknown dog races toward me barking like he's a rabid wild thing, I think it's a fabulous idea. It's so simple - an underground wire transmits a warning beep to your dog if he tries to cross the "fence". It's a win-win for you and your dog - he gets to frolic freely and you know he's not roaming the streets getting into mischief, plus your neighbors aren't afraid to walk past your home. So, why do I want one? I don't even have a dog . . .

What I want is a reverse invisible fence, a perimeter around me that keeps people out. I would feel much more neighborly towards strangers if they were not so close! Perhaps I should call my new fence The Invisible Personal Space - of course, I have an invisible personal space already . . . we all do. The problem is that not everyone respects it - so my idea is to have an invisible one that sends a little warning beep to Members of the Public who try to cross this line. The generally accepted distance for personal space (in the US) is an arm's length. If you want to get technical, there are four different levels of personal space, but the one called 'Social Distance' is 4 to 12 feet. That's right - four feet is the minimum!

This means the following behaviors are not allowed:

• close talking (remember Aaron from Seinfeld?)
• bumping the ankles of the person in front of you with your grocery cart (wow! does that hurt)
• breathing on people as you push them down the airplane aisle in your haste to deplane
• touching babies who aren't yours - no matter how cute!
• standing closer than you have to on public transportation
• sitting so close your legs/arms touch the person beside you, unless the seat is extremely crowded
• etcetera, etcetera, etcetera (to quote Yul Brynner)

Now, if you're the King of Siam you can keep people out of your personal space - perhaps just by glaring at them. For the rest of us, it's a bit more difficult. Obviously my Invisible Personal Space idea isn't fully developed - the tricky part will be convincing strangers to wear the collar and transmitter! Until I can work this out, maybe I will just purchase one of these and stand behind it:

I hope your weekend includes plenty of personal space!

What's Cheery on a Cold, Rainy Evening?

Hot Chocolate, of course!

It's been a chilly, rainy, yucky day here as the remnants of Hurricane Ida blew through town. After weeks of sunny fall days, this little winter preview was a bit of a shock and I, for one, will be happy to see the back-side of Ida! But, it's not all dreary tonight - our Hot Chocolate Pot has come out of its summer hiding and we're ready for some yummy, chocolaty hot chocolate. Did you think the phrase 'chocolaty hot chocolate' was redundant? Well, not really because not all hot chocolate is really chocolaty. I'll admit I am prejudiced against any food that begins as a powder - especially if it ends with a quick hot water stir. But, even staunch hot chocolate mix supporters will be converted once they try homemade hot chocolate.

Take a look at this recipe - it's from the reprint version of the Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book. It's an exact copy of the original 1953 cookbook, age-yellowed pages and all. If your mom or grandmother had this book, you'll enjoy this clever edition - and not just for the recipes.

The Breakfast Chocolate recipe is, however, one your whole family will love. It's very much like coffee-house hot chocolate, especially if you have a frother like the one in our chocolate pot. We've had this Williams-Sonoma pot a few years (it was a gift!) and use it often during the winter. If you love hot chocolate, check out their latest version here: Williams-Sonoma Hot Chocolate Pot.

And even though these marshmallow pirates were seen here recently, I wanted to share them again (in case you missed the peg leg the first time around). After all, no hot chocolate discussion is complete without at least a hint of marshmallow.

It's Hard to Give Thanks When You're Feeling Rude!

Oh, I forgot . . . we're never the ones who are rude are we? It's always the other people! With Thanksgiving barely two weeks away (not to mention the other holidays that come rushing after it), it might be helpful to review some holiday etiquette basics. After all, the goal of holiday get-togethers is for everyone to have a good time and a little etiquette can help that happen. None of us get up in the morning thinking, "I hope I can use my worst manners today" - it's just that as the day wears on, it's not always easy to use our best manners. This is especially true during the holidays - we're stressed, tired, anxious to get everything done perfectly and yet still have the leisure to enjoy the season. And other members of our family are also stressed and tired . . .

So, this isn't an etiquette discussion about when to use the dessert fork rather than the dessert spoon . . . it's about making an extra effort to ensure things go smoothly. And that's really what etiquette is, after all.

Guidelines for Everyone:

• Think before you speak - don't let this be an occasion where you look back and think "I wish I hadn't said that!"
• No snarky comments! Period.
• No comments on what guests eat or don't eat
• No sighs! (as in "Sally's turkey was always so moist." ~Sigh~)
• Make an effort to include everyone in the conversation and avoid polarizing topics
• Don't bully the outsider (or anyone for that matter!) into trying foods they don't like, playing touch football after the meal, imbibing, etc.
  

If You're a Guest:

• Be on time!! Timing is everything when preparing a large meal, such as Thanksgiving lunch or dinner, and it puts a real strain on the cook and the guests if the meal is delayed due to late-comers. If you are going to be late, call the host and insist the meal begin without you.
• Dress Appropriately. If this is a close family event, you'll know what to wear. Otherwise, consult the hostess ahead of time and if in doubt, choose a middle-of-the-road outfit. Just because your friend says her mom doesn't care what you wear doesn't mean you should show up in jeans and crocs.
• It's always nice to bring a little gift for the hostess. Try to avoid gifts that divert her attention (like cut flowers that require a vase). Something she can enjoy as she relaxes the next day is perfect - for example, a yummy breakfast basket filled with muffins or tea. Another great gift is a plant that can be enjoyed during the holidays - like a Christmas cactus or potted amaryllis.
• Go with the flow and be respectful of any family traditions (even if you find them A Bit Strange).
• Make yourself useful! Offer to help the cook beforehand and offer to help clear when the meal is finished. If your help is not needed, don't pester the cook - go and charm the other guests.
• Say Thank You! In person (of course), and via a thank-you note a few days later.

If You're the Host or Hostess:

• Relax!! Your guests are there to enjoy a meal with friends and family, not to judge your cooking and housekeeping skills. If you're stressed over all the little things, you may not show your best side to you guests!
• Start the meal on time. While you may not care if lunch is at 12:30 or 3:00, your guests may (especially those who have small children or are going on to a second meal or party). That's not to say this is a military operation where the meal must be served at a precise time, but don't keep guests waiting for an hour while you do last minute cooking.
• Don't ask guests to bring dishes unless you'll be happy with whatever they bring! Flexibility is the key here - if Aunt Molly wants to bring Jello surprise, so be it.
• Many families share their holiday meals with friends and neighbors. If you're doing this, it's a really nice gesture to ask if the guest has special dietary requirements - and do it while you're still in the menu planning stage. On the flip side of this dietary coin, if your meal will be extremely non-traditional (say, vegan tofurkey-type fare or steaks on the grill), you should tell your guests when issuing the invitation.
• Accept hostess gifts graciously. You're not, however, obligated to use/serve/display the gift during this meal.

That's it - there's nothing mystical or even new. It's really just common sense mixed with a bit of the Golden Rule - and remember, it's only one day out of the year! I hope you're looking forward to happy holidays!

11/11 @11 o'clock: Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day here in the US - in other countries it's celebrated on different days or under different names (such as the UK where it's Remembrance Day). The point, however, is the same - to thank those who served in the military. The holiday originated on Nov. 11, 1919 - the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I (which was then called the Great War as no one imagined it could happen again . . .). In the US, the holiday was called Armistice Day and citizens, businesses, and schools observed a two minute silence at 11:00am (you may remember the Armistice began at 11/11 11:00).


Approximately 1,800 veterans die each day, more than half from WWII. So, the next time you meet a veteran, take a minute to personally say thanks - before it's too late. You'll be glad you did . . .

(Note: The photo was taken at the Hertford, NC USO during WWII, where my grandparents worked as volunteers. Stop by later today for Thanksgiving Etiquette.)

Room for Vinaigrette in Your Handbag?

You may not consider carrying vinaigrette in your purse, but two centuries ago ladies (and gents!) always travelled with this kind of vinaigrette:

Barely larger than a postage stamp, these vinaigrettes held aromatic mixtures that could revive a swooning lady or provide a pleasant aroma to mask the rude smells one encountered in daily life!

Typically made of sterling silver, like this one, vinaigrettes held a tiny sponge beneath a little grilled screen.

This one was made in Birmingham, England in the early 1800s and has its original sponge. (!) The sponges were soaked in perfumed oils mixed with vinegar; a mixture pungent enough to allow the vinaigrettes to be very small - a necessity since you carried this at all times.

These were often given as tokens of affection and this one has a sweet inscription "From Charles to Sophia" that makes you wonder what happened to them. Were they sweethearts? The inscription is quite worn (and also very small - less than 1/2" wide) which may indicate this was a well-loved item. Perhaps Sophia used it for decades while dreaming of Charles who perished at the Battle of Waterloo . . . oh! sorry, getting off track!

Inevitably, vinaigrettes fell out of fashion - perhaps in direct correlation to improving sanitation. Their popularity peaked between 1790 and 1820 and by 1840 they were considered quite old-fashioned. What happened to them? Many are still floating around in antique shops and online auctions. A basic one, sans sponge, can be found for under $100. More elaborate ones by famous makers or with engravings of famous sites often run in the hundreds. Or, you can go for the top of the line and get something like this:

This citrine and gold vinaigrette sold last month at Christie's for almost $4,000. I love the way the grille design can be seen through the Citrine . . . So, when you're antiquing, watch for these tiny gems. You may find a real bargain and you may get hooked on these little beauties!

I'm off to make a salad . . . I have a strange craving for vinaigrette!

(And tomorrow we'll be chatting about Thanksgiving Etiquette - that's right, with a capital 'E')

Pickles for the People! (oh yeah, & Castor Beans)

If you had to make Pickles for The People, how many would you make? Certainly more than Peter Piper's Peck of Pickled Peppers . . . Not to worry, just use this 20 gallon pickle crock!

It's huge - I can't imagine it filled with pickles. We purchased this at an antique shop a few days ago and are trying to determine if it's too nice to live on our porch. The shop owner thinks it's about 100 years old, but as many of his wares were more junktique than antique we're not certain.

It is perfectly plain, with handles on each side and the size '20' painted or stamped on the front. Some pickle crocks are really valuable (selling for thousands at auction) because they have lovely designs painted on them and are stamped with a maker's name - ours is more utilitarian, with no markings. I'm thinking of putting a large tropical plant in it next spring . . .

So, now you know what's cheery on our porch this week! And, someone e-mailed with a question about a plant that was in a post a few weeks ago about Reynolda Gardens. This plant, in fact:

It's a Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) and is poisonous if ingested. (Note the Latin name - the poison is ricin which was in the news quite a bit a few years ago. Espionage buffs will also remember that ricin was used to assassinate Georgi Markov in the '70s - it was injected through the tip of an umbrella as he waited for the train at Waterloo Station!) It's a large, stunning plant, however, and is an annual in this area (Zone 7).

Enjoy your Monday in the garden!

Kreative Blogger Award!

As quickly mentioned a few days ago, Emmie at Southern Aspirations has nominated this little blog for the Kreativ Blogger award. First a big thank you to Emmie for that. (And a note to her - I almost died when I saw the pic of you sitting in the surf in your wedding gown!) The last time I won an award was over a decade ago - for having the best witch cackle in my church choir's fundraising musical review (note: I was the only witch!).

And on to the 'business' of the Kreativ Blogger - to tell you seven things about myself that you don't know and to pass the award on to seven other blogs (and add comments/link to their fabulous blogs)! So, here are the seven things:

1. I could never be a professional chef because I don't like eggs, oysters, duck, or mussels (I do, however, make a great omelet!)


2. Ditto #1 because I'm not crazy about cutting up a chicken - I usually wait until my husband is available and then supervise


3. I love champagne - alone or in a Mimosa or punch


4. Relating to #3, my wish list includes some new champagne flutes from Tiffany - the stems are hollow (so pretty!!)


5. My all-time favorite television show is 'Foyle's War' - a perfect combination of British murder mystery/detective/World War II costume drama (yes, even better than Mad Men!)


6. October is my favorite month


7. I love raking fall leaves - the crunch, the autumn smell, the 'look how much progress I've made in an hour' aspect . . . having said that, I should disclose that our yard guys remove (and compost) most of our leaves so perhaps I love it now because it's a small job

And now for the difficult part of the Kreative Blogger award - passing it on. There are so many great blogs that I enjoy regularly that it's not easy to pick seven, but here goes.

• Uniquely Tea which was one of the first blogs I discovered in Blogland. It's a great resource for All Things Tea!


• The Daily Postcard which features a postcard each day with a bit of history and often a fascinating story. There is truly something for everyone here!


• Elderberry Street which is always lovely and where you'll find lots of craft, food, and decorating inspiration!


• The Covered Porch where the idea of creating a beautiful refuge and still living simply is alive and well! (Plus, the Velveteen Rabbit was featured a few days ago - what more can I say?)


• Purdy Wallcovering which will change the way you view wallpaper forever! You must check out the 'Wallpaper as Table Runner' photo!


• Garden Designs + More which is a beautiful garden blog. It's not too late to check out the wonderful Halloween plants featured here!


• Sarah-Jane Down the Lane which will make you want to pack your bags for the English countryside- in time for the Vintage and Handmade Christmas Fair!

I hope you'll check out some of these great blogs! And enjoy the rest of your weekend . . .

Let's Go Retro!

Retro? Yes, as in retronyms! A retronym is a term created to clarify an existing word whose meaning has become unclear due to societal or technological changes. For example, 'snail-mail' is a retronym used to distinguish electronic communications from traditional postal service. The word 'retronym' was popularized by William Safire (who passed away earlier this year), and first appeared in the American Heritage Dictionary in 2000. Here are some popular retronyms:

• free-range chicken
• black & white photograph
• summer Olympics
• acoustic guitar
• classical music
• push mower
• whole milk
• pocket watch
• dirt road
• manual transmission
• propeller airplane
• hardback book
• organic food

I hope you enjoyed this little look at retronyms. If you know any interesting ones, please send them in a comment or email. To close, here's a photo I took from the car a few days ago. It's a bit blurry, but I think this gives it a dreamy quality (it's a beautiful house on the Battery in Charleston).

Cornhuskin': It's an Angel Thing

Today is the final day of Cornhuskin'! Unless you're a Meredith College student or alum you may not be that excited about this news . . . but, for those current students it's the biggest day in the fall semester - a tradition started in the 1940s that has evolved into a week-long celebration.

Originally Cornhuskin' was a kind of harvest festival with hog calling, corn shucking, apple bobbing, and, of course, costumes! There is competition between the classes - with each class choosing a theme and integrating it into their skit, dance, shirts, tall tale, parade floats, etc. The themes are top secret and the class that earns the most points in all categories is declared the winner.

The photo above is from my Senior Cornhuskin' - we had sweatshirts, hats, balloons and songbooks - fairly simple compared to the Spirit Packs of today. The songs were a big element then, carefully written and rehearsed. I was a bit sad to find that there are no songs now - perhaps a sign of the dwindling music department. But, the songs were replaced with a dance that is expertly choreographed and performed enthusiastically.

Another thing that has changed is the Beehive - as seen above, it was a building that was painted and repainted each year. I have to say I've never enjoyed subsequent painting projects as much . . . sadly the Beehive itself is now demolished. But, when one tradition dies another takes its place.

The Can Art competition is a new event - each class designs a large art project made entirely of cans - following their theme, of course! And the tunnel painting is also new (by new I mean since the 1980s!).

You can sum this up with the old saying "the more things change, the more they stay the same." Since my time, Cornhuskin' has become a five day event culminating on Friday rather than Thursday - and it's now open to friends and family. It's much bigger and more professional, but at the core it's the same: a celebration of 'Meredithness' - friendship, competition, and most of all fun! I hope this makes you think of the traditions in your world - be they family, school, or community ones. Long may they continue!

And to all the Meredith Angels competing tonight - I hope this is the best Cornhuskin' ever! And special good wishes to the Class of 2010!!

(And finally a word of caution to the men in our lives - if you're only going to remember one thing about Meredith choose Cornhuskin' - nothing ends a relationship quicker than calling it 'Cornshucking' . . . )

Have a Corn-tastic Day!!

Come and Meet Our Slumpkin

What happens when a beautiful pumpkin meets a dastardly squirrel? A slumpkin, of course!

This was a perfect pumpkin last week - now look at it! Until a few years ago, we always bought fabulous bumpy pumpkins - you know the ones, really interesting, craggy things that just shout 'Halloween'. Well, the squirrels loved the bumps - it gave them something to chew on - literally. They started by gnawing off one of the bumps and within a few days the whole pumpkin was destroyed. Thinking we were smarter than a rodent with a brain the size of a walnut, we switched to boring, smooth pumpkins. And our plan worked, until this year. This pumpkin was in front of a bench made of three BIG rocks (a horizontal one resting on two vertical ones) and apparently the squirrels hid under the bench and somehow nibbled away at the hidden side. We did not see any evidence of this until the pumpkin slumped and we investigated: the back and insides are gone. Completely. And there's a patch of pesky Bermuda grass coming from under the bench as well. Give it a six months and it will leap its way across our nice Fescue - just like the squirrels eating our pumpkins and spring bulbs. What we need is a way to get the squirrels to eat the Bermuda grass . . .

On a different note, I want to say a big Thank You to Emmie at Southern Aspirations for nominating this blog for the Kreativ Blogging award. I'm actually out of town this week and my blog is mostly on auto-pilot . . . so, more about this after the weekend! In the meantime, check out Emmie's blog - you'll like it!

Why Does Europe Get All the Good Hooks??!

Look closely at the photo above. It's my handbag precariously perched on . . . yes, a giant toilet paper dispenser. You may ask why? Why is my bag on the yucky public TP holder? Or, why did I take a photo of it? (Yes, that's a new low for me - sneaking pictures in the restroom and hoping the person in the next stall doesn't think I'm a pervert. But, at least I wasn't talking on the phone while in the stall - that really is creepy . . .)


Here's the answer:

No hook!! Why wasn't there a hook? This wasn't a ratty, unisex, gas station bathroom; it was a large bookstore in a nice shopping area. To be precise, it's the book store where I once saw Rachael Ray (who, by the way, is much prettier in person - imagine that). One would assume a book store that can attract Rachael Ray, Emeril, and Libby Langdon could keep working hooks in the restroom. I mean what if Libby Langdon, the Small Space maven, needed to hang her coat on a hook? How embarrassing for the store then - its only small space is not even functional. Because without a hook it's hard to function - there's no place to put your coat, if you have a big handbag (like this one) it's tricky to hold it, and if you have shopping bags they have to go on the floor. I just can't put my handbag or coat on the floor, though. Can you? Some people use the paper seat covers to make a clean 'landing pad' on the floor. That's not really great, either, because it's wasteful and who's going to pick them up? Probably not a person who's too squeamish to put her stuff on the floor . . .

This all made me wonder why public restrooms are so shoddily constructed. I've traveled and worked quite a bit in Europe and their restrooms are always intact - real hooks and doors that latch and sometimes even a handy shelf for packages. And, not only do the door latches not break, they usually have an ingenious design that tells people outside the stall whether it's occupied. Often a little window displays either a red or green bar when the latch is closed or open - no peeking under the door. Why can't we get that here? Is this some EU conspiracy? If we adopt the Euro can we find out the Secret? Or is it just that builders here cut corners in the restrooms? We used to have sturdy restrooms. Visit old buildings that have the original restrooms intact - train stations, office buildings, department stores - you'll see heavy doors with working latches and big hooks. (If you're in the Raleigh area, go to Logan's - it's a great nursery with a yummy cafe, all housed in a former train depot - original marble restrooms, with big hooks and door latches that say 'vacant' or 'occupied' - still working perfectly after 60+ years!)

So, now you probably think I'm obsessed with public restrooms . . . I'm not. Most days I don't think about them at all . . . but, I do long for the good old days of reliable hooks!

Stop by tomorrow to meet our Slumpkin and chat about the Kreativ Blogger award.

Five Words That Make My Husband Cringe

You're probably thinking of various five-word phrases that are cringe-worthy or that would require heroic action on the part of a husband - like "honey, there's a dead mouse!" or "I saw a big spider" or "I backed into the mailbox" or even "dinner tonight with the _____s!" But, as my husband doesn't mind bugs or other wildlife and I'm a good driver and we're both good at creative ways to say 'no' to yucky social invitations, these phrases are not even close. The five words I'm referring to sound much more innocent: I have a great idea. Why does this phrase make my husband run the other way? He interprets this to mean "I have an idea that's going to require lots of materials, lots of your time, and will not work out the way I envision . . ."

This time of year I always have these ideas - the holidays just bring out the "idea" side of me! Frequently the ideas are for new outdoor holiday decorations. We have a two story house with porches up and down and there are so many possibilities when it comes to decorating. We've done all the obvious things - garland on the railings and/or garland around the columns (including one year when my pariticularly ambitious plan involved all boxwood garland - unfortunately this was during one of those North Carolina Decembers when temperatures soared into the 70s and the boxwood was brown almost instantly and I almost fell off the upstairs porch in an effort to mist the garland on the front of the columns). For two years we had a large, 60+ inch wreath in the center of the upstairs railing. This was quite pretty and my husband liked it because it was very simple - half-a-dozen cable ties and the wreath was in place, two more minutes and the Moravian star was hanging above it and we were done. But, two years of the same thing is enough, right?

For about five years I've had a vision of lighted stars sweeping across the front of the house. Small ones, large ones, all glittery and mysterious in the dark. Various plans, involving plexiglass and a Dremel, or plywood and a staple gun, or cable ties and coat hangers, did not live up to their promise - leading to the purchase of the runner-up big wreaths. Last year, however, I figured out a way to make this work - large bamboo garden stakes. So simple. Lay the stakes flat in a star shape - the kind of overlapping star you draw without lifting your pencil. Then fasten the intersections with cable ties and attach lights around the outside. The inner cross pieces add stability and at night cannot be seen. And, by using stakes that are seven or eight feet long, you can create really large stars (tip - assemble outside as the large ones will be taller than your door!). Ours turned out beautifully and came together quickly. I loved this look last year, but think it would be nice for a change this year. Hence my new idea . . .

My vision for Christmas 2009 is big banners that hang between the columns - from the roof over the upstairs porch to mid-way the downstairs porch. I've been turning this idea over in my mind for weeks - could we use flag fabric or some inexpensive lightweight fabric that's backed with something substantial? And then it came to me while I was soaking in the tub (as many great ideas do!) - we could use linoleum. I've seen beautiful painted floorcloths made from linoleum scraps - it's much easier than the traditional way of creating a floorcloth by priming canvas (you paint on the reverse and there's no prep at all). So why not get large linoleum remnants and paint the reverse, cut them (I'm thinking cute points at the bottom) and attach them with a staple gun? Remnants are cheap and so is paint and this could be an easy one-day project! And linoleum won't blow around like fabric. More proof that this is a viable idea! Now I just have to convince my husband. (Not to worry, if he balks, I have another great idea, aka Backup Plan: Giant Bunting!!)

Knit a Poem: Craft Meets Literature in a Big Way

The British Poetry Society recently sponsored a project that involved over 1,000 knitters and crocheters from around the globe. To celebrate their centenary, the Poetry Society decided to create a knitted poem - a really large knitted poem. The poem was constructed from 12-inch squares - one letter per square - with the poem itself remaining a closely guarded secret. The final poem measured approximately 10 yards by 14 yards. (Picture that on a football field to get an idea of the scope!)

Regretfully, I didn't find out about this project in time to blog about it, but I was able to contribute one tiny square. My knitting skills are really basic, but I'm a fairly advanced crocheter and the P. Society was accepting crocheted squares as well as knitted ones, so I e-mailed the person coordinating the project to ask if there was still time to join in and was excited to get my 'assignment' later that day. I was disappointed to learn that the letters were being knitted and that the crocheters were creating the blank squares used to separate words. It was a little like finding out you're going to be a Scrabble letter, dreaming of being a 'Z' or 'Q' then ending up as a blank tile. Oh well, I only had two days in which to complete my task and that included choosing a color. Despite years of crocheting baby blankets, ensuring the square was truly square and exactly 12" did require a little concentration. But, it was mailed with 10 days to make it to London and I was happy with the way it turned out - even if it was just a blank!

The Poetry Society organized sewing sessions where volunteers sewed the squares together - and still the poem was a secret. Then on October 7 it was unveiled at London's British Library - and the poem was revealed. There's no way to find out the location of my square, but I think it's under the 'I' in 'their' in the top left part of the photo below (it's bright green):

I think this was a very clever way to commemorate one hundred years. I'd love to think of my own project that could involve lots of people working together to create something fun. When I was a Junior Girl Scout in the 1970s, our troop participated in a statewide quilt - one troop from each of the 100 counties sewed a square that represented their county. These were used to make a quilt that was displayed in the Governor's Mansion or perhaps the Legislature - the details are a bit fuzzy. I had not thought about that quilt in years, but crocheting my poem square reminded me of it. Okay, so there's a project for me - find out what happened to that quilt! I'll let you know if I locate it . . .

The knitted poem will be displayed in different cities in the UK - check the Poetry Society website for details. And the big question - what was the poem? 'In My Craft or Sullen Art' by Dylan Thomas. I think you'll like it - it's especially nice to read while you're sewing or knitting or thinking about sewing or knitting . . .

In My Craft or Sullen Art by Dylan Thomas

In my craft or sullen art
Exercised in the still night
When only the moon rages
And the lovers lie abed
With all their griefs in their arms,
I labour by singing light
Not for ambition or bread
Or the strut and trade of charms
On the ivory stages
But for the common wages
Of their most secret heart.

Not for the proud man apart
From the raging moon I write
On these spindrift pages
Nor for the towering dead
With their nightingales and psalms
But for the lovers, their arms
Round the griefs of the ages,
Who pay no praise or wages
Nor heed my craft or art.

That's One Crazy Sandwich, Missy!

If you're thinking about making lunches for the upcoming week, don't stick to the same old-same old. Check out these strangely appealing sandwiches. The first was created by an 8 year old as an entry in a contest sponsored by Jif:

The piano is very cute - and you can easily see how to recreate it at home. You'll need a tall lunchbox, however! (Sorry, I don't know who created this . . .)

The next two are courtesy the Insanewiches website, which is a site dedicated to weird sandwiches. If you like these, you'll want to check out the rest of their menu - or perhaps enter your own photo!

Any child will be happy to find this cheery Pooh Bear in his or her lunchbox.

Again, I don't know who created this sandwich, but it's great. It's kind of a passive-aggressive sandwich that says, "yes, I care enough to make your lunch, but I hope it scares you!"

And I saved the best for last - look at this creative Godiva ad. Who knew a few marshmallows, paper clips and a cocktail sword could come together in such a clever way?

Hope your week is full of fun lunches!