Wonderful Family Visits + Flight Delay to NJ until tomorrow

I visited with my Grandma today, it was a very nice visit.

I still remember many of the homes my Grandma and Grandpa lived in;

they built many homes over the years, would live in them a bit

and then sell them, as a way to support themselves. 

My Grandma has lived 8 years now in a lovely apartment complex 

for retired persons and she has a lovely corner apartment with two extra windows,

that to this day I am convinced that her beloved Husband, my Grandpa, 

prayed for her from Heaven, my Grandpa being gone since 2006 but

I know in Christ he is not far. 

The last picture is really special to me, as it is a picture my Aunt M. made for

my Grandma (and another for me) of Grandma and I on our wedding days,

as I wore Grandma's wedding dress 62 years after she wore it on 

her wedding day...

I am really close to my Grandma, I try to talk to her at least once a week

and she catches me up on everyone's news, as well as her own.

***

So last week, when I was in her van with her and we were driving to Aunt M's house for lunch,

I asked her if her Mother (my Great Grandmother) had ever had silver-plate silverware

(it was on my mind since I had just found some the day before at the thrift store)

and was surprised to hear my Grandma say,

"I have some myself"... as I knew my Grandma to be practical, I did not realize she 

had some herself! She said it has been in her closet and would I want it, 

as she did not think anyone else would. 

OF COURSE I would I said!!! 

And she talked about how she would use her Fostoria Early American Crystal and 

her silver-plate silverware on Sundays and when family came over,

that us kids used her stainless steel silverware and the adults the silver-plate.

That way, she explained, she would have enough for everyone's place setting. 

I remember my Grandma's dining room table, it was large, heavy a shining table,

a deep dark cherry colour, with many leaves that could be put in;

when she sold her last house (it was so darling), 

she sold the table and chairs, as they were too big for her new smaller apartment

and she gave the lady the table cloths that were big enough to go with it,

with all the leaves on it; the lady was so happy as she wanted to use this table

and the table cloths when she had family over... 

I got this wooden chest from her hallway closet and 

looked up the pattern information at home... 

it is from Holmes & Edwards Spring Garden pattern.

I polished each piece tonight and then washed and dried it all... 

This pattern seems to be very possibly from 1949.

My Grandma and Grandpa were married in 1950, on April 14th... 68 years ago this year....

***

I told my Husband about this, and that I felt a sadness at how life goes on 

and one's Grandparents grow older and in time pass away,

and that I am glad to have my Grandma's silver-plate but sad that she does not have

the house to use it in any longer....

When my Grandma said it had been 8 years since the silver-plate had been used,

as she has lived in her small apartment 8 years already, 

I could hardly believe that much time had passed.

I remember so vividly my Grandma waiting for an apartment to open up 

where she lives now and then for the house to sell... 

***

I am very blessed to have her in my life...

***

Well, I found out that my flight was cancelled this afternoon,

I would have been home by now.

I fly out tomorrow late morning, God willing.

I do ask your prayers for a safe flight and that I can be reunited with my 

Husband then, who is missing me and waiting for me,

and I for him!

And Cleo, she's been complaining for days about me being gone... :) 

***

I thank God for everything though

know that in this thanksgiving is where I will have peace

from God in His mercy...

Baptism day for my dear niece

My niece, at a bit over 1.5 years old, wore the silver Cross

I gave her for her baptism; her Mother put it on her;

blessed by Holy Water, blessed by baptism and it's waters.

I was so glad that I was able to be there.

Her Mother gave her a profound verse that will always be

with her daughter, read out loud over her, as a blessing and as a charge. 

***

And so my work here is now almost over, for now.

Tomorrow I see my Grandmother for lunch and a visit.

Then tomorrow night, God willing, I fly home 

and am deeply looking forward to being with my 

beloved Husband again. 

Last Friday in MI before I go back to NJ

Isn't this little creamer darling? 

I bought it today at a thrift store that my Mom and I visited for $3.oo

I found it very sweet.  My newly found treasures will be coming later 

to NJ when my parents come DV in the fall of this year...

I can't wait to use it for tea... it will be perfect with my little 

white strawberry fields sugar bowl I have... 

A friend sent this to me a few months ago via social media

as it reminded her of myself, 

which was nice of her to say.

I am knitting a blanket right now.

The artist info is found here (and elsewhere) FYI for this painting.

***

I went to my sister's house today.

It was lovely and very peaceful.

Lunch. Watching R my newly adopted niece play. It was really nice.

And their neighbourhood was quiet. 

I pray that peace that is there lasts for decades and decades for them.

***

Tonight I went out with my parents and other family

to dinner.

It's still strange that my Aunt Karen is not there with them.

***

Tomorrow I get to stay home and DV will glaze the scones I made 

earlier (and froze) for a dessert for the baptism of my niece on Sunday.

I am really looking forward to this.

***

Monday I hope to take my Grandma out to lunch and spend some time with her.

I fly back later that day.

St Elizabeth's Day in NJ + Aunt H day in MI

Thrift store fun!!! 

My book finds! Books were 50% off!!! 

I got 3 Dutch tins in great condition!

The taller Droste tin is made in England for Droste in 1984!

And in great condition! I can't wait to add these to my collection

in my pantry! 

Today was a blessing.

My Husband made it to liturgy for St Elizabeth's day,

saw many people he knows and love, 

had various ones ask him where I was (in MI),

was given food for dinner tonight, 

made plans to see others for lunch or dinner in NJ or NYC,

and had a really good time and felt very cared for.

As a wife who is in MI while he is in NJ this made

me so grateful and happy. 

***

So he called from church while I was in the thrift store,

I told him about the books I found

(first edition Potok, PD James, Julia Child + vintage L'Engle in paperback, etc!).

the very cute Dutch tins and we discussed the silverplate in wooden box

for all of 12.00!  I have in NJ 2 wooden boxes, one of which the top part

(where the knives are) is coming apart from the wood.  

This may be fixable, I am not sure.  It also has a very scratched top. 

Anyway, this box was much better + some nice pieces that polished up 

brilliantly, even better than a lot of what I already have... plus 6

serving spoons that don't have part of the silver platting missing! 

And 4 grapefruit spoons! (I don't have any of these)... and a uniquely shaped 

server that I researched and found it is for pastry/pies! 

34 pieces total!

That's 35 cents/piece! And without the box in the price! 

They all polished up very nicely!

I am so very pleased!! 

***

DV my parents will come in October and bring this set with them... 

I don't at all mind having mix-and-match silver plate sets

and I dream of being able to offer more hospitality and having 

people over... we will see what God allows... 

***

I dream of having more hospitality... I hope one day God will allow this... 

I know I am granted various times with this, but I still would love to do more,

even if it was only soup and bread.... 

We shall see...

***

I am counting down the days until I am with my Beloved Husband again,

but I am thankful for all the visits with family meanwhile...

I told my Husband on the phone that I feel like a plant wilting without 

sunshine when I am not with him... and sang him the 

'you are my sunshine' song and he was all cute, saying

"I think that was a declaration of love" which of course it was!

***

So while we are in a challenging time today was a real boost to us both.

***

Dear St Elizabeth the New Martyr, pray to God for us! 

Another day, quiet and working towards a better tomorrow

From a Miss Read book.

I have found a lot of truth in these words;

we've been in a really hard unbloggable time for over 1.5 years, 

really 2 years already, and it has often been the little things,

the beauty of a dish, a cup of good tea, 

a glass of milk, a rose that smells like a rose, 

a green leafy tree, a baby's smile, a beautifully done fabric, 

or a card in the mail or a text, a phone call, or a visit over tea

and lunch... a nice bit of chocolate...esp shared with a friend...

I saw my oldest friend today, 

oldest not in years but in that we have known each other since

 I was 5 months and she was born :)

Because of busy family schedules, we have not really talked in years 

but like any true friendship, we just picked up where we left off,

told each other many things, including hard things that we have gone through

or are going through and that was a real blessing...

I wish I could see her more...

My Husband had this pie at a restaurant near our home.

I really wanted him too, 

we are going through a really hard time and it's super hard to be 

away from him right now, painful actually at times, but we both feel 

I need to be here right now for my niece's baptism...

and since I can't making him nice treats to eat, I was glad he went out

and had this for dessert... key lime pie! 

***

I am so glad that there have been so many blessings of family visits

and friends and for the Lord's mercy....

My Mom's Roast Beef + About Today

Today was a quiet day.

I finished Miss Clare Remembers.

It was hot here, there was no rain where my parents were

and in NJ where my Husband it, there's a heat advisory because of the 

humidity.... so that's hard.... friends of Mr Husband had him over for a later dinner

and I am so glad we have friends like this...

I am missing my beloved Husband a lot right now! 

But soon, DV, we will be back in NJ together...

Meanwhile, about dinner that was so good at my parents house tonight,

will leave you with this simple recipe from my Mom... 

roast beef as I had it today at my Mom's house 

My Mom told me after dinner how she made this delicious roast beef, 

here's the instructions:

English roast is the one she chooses

Use a glass 7x11 pan if that is the size needed

She uses foil, heavy duty Reynolds wrap, pull out huge piece, 

put in bottom of glass pan, put meat on it, then get a can of
Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, 

Mom buys the healthy request soup, and put that on top. 

Then one of the lipton onion mushroom packages 

which has more than one packet in it.  

Use 1 packet, half or whole packet is sprinkled it on after the soup is on top, 

then wrap it up in the heavy duty foil, 

curl up edges, wrapped real tight ... baked in oven 300F for 4 hours...

 = delicious gravy with roast 

The left overs often even better than first time you have it 

Thankfulness while in MI at my parent's home....

Two very special Crosses picked out for my newly adopted niece, R. M.!!! 

The gold one is for her 18th birthday... I have written a letter

to her, for her to open on her 18th birthday to go with this

and my Sister and Brother-in-Law are going to save it

for her for this time.... 

I am so excited for her baptism! The Crosses are both

baptism gifts... 

From one of our walks at my parent's house...

One of the cutest dogs ever, named Dobby!

At Lake Michigan 2 weeks ago...

Some of the books I have gotten recently...

I am saving them for when I am back home in NJ... 

I have been blessed with many treats since St Peter and Paul day on Thursday! 

So nice! This week I hope to make scones for dessert for my niece's baptism this Sunday!

I am excited for that!!! 

One of my Mom's Miss Read books that I read already this trip! 

I am enjoying one right now called Miss Clare Remembers that

has a lot of history and lovely descriptions in it!

 My Mom made delicious GF brownies (my sister is GF) and she

used her super fun vintage scale!

I have had fun eating taco salad and today chicken salad too! 

Lunch at my parents house, with my sister, brother-in-law and Uncle L at the meal!

I went to liturgy at the church I was chrismated in 14 years ago

this August...  It was nice to be back...

there were various familiar faces but tons of people who have come

since I left in 2004... a lot can happen in 14 years... 

***

This song is one they sang, along with another one that 

had verses about praising God... I was very moved...

this (below) is one I listened to years ago... 

it's sung by the mother of one of my godsons

and I listened to it before I knew her, so it's 

doubly special to me. 

It's a beautiful song. 

A verse to hold to

O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”  

2 Chronicles 20:12 NKJV 

***

I am in MI for another week, for a very happy reason:

My sister and brother-in-law officially adopted their daughter

and I am staying for the baptism of my new niece (a week off yet)!

My beloved Husband is back home in NJ as of today,

we had a lovely visit in MI together.

The unbloggable is ongoing but I find that God is giving me

some peace (at least today!) in the midst of it, while at home, 

though I have a lot of lessons to learn on patience.... 

It's wonderful to be at my parent's house!

And, as the Feast of St Peter and Paul was this Thursday,

it's so fun to eat ice cream and meat again, 

I must admit! 

I feel like I am going to be well-stocked to return to NJ in a week's time,

I have chosen some new books (all at good / thrift / sale prices),

have meals, dessert and dinners to plan/make

and I hope to get back to sewing my goddaughter's quilt.  

And for all of this, 

I thank God! 

Suspension

Lots of visits with family right now.

Reading some great books.

Reading some for guidance and some for relaxation.

Our unbloggable is dragging on, 

I realized that 'suspension' is the best way I can describe how

I feel... lots of unknowns and no way of knowing when things will change.

But our days are going well and quiet right now,

so that our actual days have much to recommend them to anyone who is looking 

for quiet and family visits, 

both of which we are quite fond of.