Stashmaster

Memories

My Grandma Lois passed away on Friday.   She and I always had a special bond and I have been in a complete state of emotional turmoil since I heard the news.

Grandma Lois was my mom's mom and always so much fun.  She loved kids of all ages and spoiled all of them.  She had a late in life baby that was just one year older than my oldest brother, and I think that kept her young at heart all her life.

We had some fun times together.   One of the most memorable experiences - and one we talked about nearly every time we were together - was when she came to visit us in Seattle and took me to see the movie Blazing Saddles.  Just Grandma and me.   My parents were horrified that she took me - age 12 - to see an R-rated movie, but we had a rip-roaring good time and laughed until we cried.

I will never forget another time she came to visit and we went to see a movie with my mom (she loved to go "to the show").  My mom asked Grandma if she wanted some candy, and Grandma replied "Does a ball bounce?"  She always had a sweet tooth (we shared a love of black licorice) and a very funny sense of humor.

Grandma, Mom and I took a trip to Reno when I was in my early 20s and that was such a fun time.   We played one particular slot machine in our hotel lobby that consistenly paid out - no big jackpots, but enough to keep us entertained.  We were always disappointed if we came downstairs and found out someone was playing our "Watermelon" machine.

Grandma loved to travel, whereas my Grandpa Claude was more of a stay-at-home guy.  She would often plan a trip and wait until just as she was leaving to tell him about it.

Mom and I were always chuckling about her penchant for malapropisms - she always came up with some very unintentional funny sayings.

She had the most beautiful porcelain skin and snow white hair.

My daughter's middle name is Lois, after my grandmother.  Last summer when we stayed with my mom, Lily was down at great-grandma's one evening and I went to pick her up, but I wasn't allowed to take her, because the "girls" were in the midst of a rousing game of Gin Rummy.   I'm glad I got a picture of it.

I miss you, Grandma.   :(

Happy Mother's Day!

What better way to spend the eve of Mother's Day than in front of her new Hello Kitty machine, teaching my daughter how to sew! Here she is in deep concentration.

She picked out yellows and pinks from the Strawberry Lemonade collection and she's going to put together a simple 9-patch, but for now, I'm just having her get used to the feel of the machine and practice on the leftover pieces to practice sewing a straight line.

And here is the result - her first seam!

Here's hoping all the Moms and Grandmoms out there reading this find a special way to spend Mother's Day with your loved ones. Happy Mother's Day, one and all.

I-N-T-E-R-F-E-R-E

OK, for lack of anything quilty to blog about (I'm hoping my secret quilt project will be finished this weekend so I can post about it), allow me a Proud Mommy Brag.  My DS#2 won the 5th Grade Spelling Bee for his school this week.  "Interfere" was his word.  They had an all-school assembly, and he won spelling this word in front of the entire school.  Not only am I proud as can be about his spelling achievement, the most miraculous part for me is how far he has come from his painfully shy early school years when something like this would have sent him to the nurse's office with a headache and wanting to come home.   I am so proud of all of my kids for everything they do every day, but I am extra especially proud of my middle child this week.

Officially 2!

My baby girl is celebrating her 2nd official birthday today.  She was born on Leap Day, 8 years ago today.  Special from the very beginning, that's for sure!   Her birthday presents include a Hello Kitty sewing machine and the promise for me to teach her to sew.  She can hardly wait!

Breakfast of Champions!

No, this is not what I had for breakfast, but early Sunday morning found me packaging fudge and gingersnap cookies for the office cookie exchange and various other holiday activities. I can't believe I haven't blogged all week, but while I am usually such a homebody, this week I've been quite the social butterfly and have only been home one night during the week, which I spent baking, as you can see. Hopefully the social obligations will settle down and I can get back to sewing and blogging. I did finish nearly all my Christmas shopping, but now I must get busy at the wrapping station.

I must share my grandmother's gingersnap cookie recipe with you - they are my favorite cookie and even DS #1 who won't eat sweets begs me to make these cookies. They are more of what you would term a molasses cookie because they are soft, not "snappy" but that is what we've always called them. They are easy and delicious and freeze well, if you have any left to freeze! I made a triple batch on Friday night and I love that my daughter can now help me roll the balls - what a time saver, plus, some fun bonding time with my baby girl.

GINGERSNAPS

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup molasses (I prefer the Brer Rabbit full-flavor type)
One egg, room temperature
2-1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Melt shortening, cool. Add sugar, molasses and egg - beat. Sift and add to first mixture the flour, soda, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and salt.

Chill the dough 10 minutes.

Form into 1-inch balls, roll in sugar and place on cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes - do not brown, but cookies should be nicely "cracked" on top.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

I had no idea!

My twins are in the same 5th grade class, and they have a pair of teachers that each teaches half time.  One teacher's mom recently died and DS #1 took it really hard.  He cried, and he didn't even know her mom, but he got emotional just the same.  And then he relayed the story to his other teacher of how his mom almost died!  Excuse me?  I did?  Apparently, he thought I was on my deathbed when I had strep throat back in March (hmm? does this mean I'm a drama queen?).

I had no clue he was so worried!  Of course, when he told his teacher this story, DS #2 said, "No she didn't!"  Can you imagine if he hadn't been there to clear it up?  Their teacher might have been really worried about my poor son and his nearly dead mother!  Kids really do say the darndest things!

Musical family

My boys are now in 5th grade and had the opportunity to play an instrument this year.  DS #1 picked the viola (just like his Mom!) and DS #2 chose the clarinet.  They started music classes at school just about 4 weeks ago and I've heard them practice, but last Sunday they gave us a little concert.  DS #1 played Mary Had a Little Lamb on the viola.  It sounded very nice.  Then DS #2 played Jingle Bells, then went on to play Sleigh Ride and then a little ditty that he composed.   I was stunned by how good he was!

This is the boy that wanted to quit after only a week because it was too hard.  He finally figured out how to play actual notes and it finally clicked for him.  Last night he came into the kitchen while I was preparing dinner and played the National Anthem for me twice - with no music in front of him!   Then he went in and asked his brother "Can you play the National Anthem?"  (To which DS #1 responded - "But we're only supposed to go to page 10!")  lol

I asked Squidward if all the clarinets were playing such advanced songs or if he was going on ahead in his lessons and he said he was going ahead.  I was truly blown away.   He's a natural.   My sons - the musicians!  (Oh and DS #1 is also in the choir and sings like an angel...)