Lady Mary and Sir Jacob

Jacob and Mary's Feast...

(Sorry about the blinding yellow.  I took the picture in almost complete darkness- candlelight only.)

Jacob is our third son and Mary is his beautiful wife.  They live 1.2 miles up the road from us. Jacob is a fun-loving guy and Mary is a good sport.  Jacob is artistic and creative.  He likes to forge steel, carve wood, and even cook. His heart goes pitter-pat when he spies a chainsaw. He loves cold weather camping and hiking.  He's an excellent huntsman and has put a good deal of meat in our freezer over the past few years.  He especially likes to bow hunt, but he hasn't had any success with that, yet.  His aim is spot on, so it's only a matter of time. He's a sentimental guy, with a trunk filling with objects from his and Mary's courtship and the beginning of their marriage.  Mary... she's a perfect match for Jacob.  She's a lovely, loving person.  She's delightfully feisty and tries to keep Jacob from being such a guy.  She has a thankful heart. She's easily pleased and dotes on her new little sisters- who adore her.  She does tend to worry and Jacob is a perfect match for her in that he rarely worries. Maybe they'll balance each other out. I'm pretty sure they couldn't make a decision without the other one's input to save their lives.  Not a bad thing, I suppose, for newlyweds.  Definitely keeps the peace.  We just couldn't imagine loving them more. (I can't talk about Jacob and Mary without mentioning their puppy, Brave.  He's a labroshepherd and I must say, he's adorable in the way that only puppies can be.)

         

Their feast was a medieval extravaganza. We arrived at their house and dinner wasn't quite ready.  Mary was worried that we were waiting.  We assured her that we were enjoying the wait.  How often do we get to wait for a meal- that someone else is cooking- while seated in comfort?  They invited us into their candlelit meal with a ribbon festooned hair piece for the girls and a Nerf-type sword for the guys.  The table was laden with piles of grapes and loaves of homemade bread(lemon raisin- it reminded me of stollen.)  The bread was braided and as tasty as it was pretty.  There were candles and shields everywhere. They had sparkling grape juice to drink. Then, they brought out the food.  Oh my, what a feast!  Jacob had won a turkey at a turkey shoot.(For the non-country folk- or for those of you who have never seen the movie, Private York- a turkey shoot is a type of sharpshooter contest.) So they had a big turkey with stuffing on a platter, two roasted hens, potato pancakes, homemade rye/bacon rolls and English peas.  We were allowed plates, but no serving spoons or silverware.  As you can imagine, the kids jumped right in with both hands!  It was very, very good and so much fun. Mary worried there wouldn't be enough food, but we had plenty.  (John and Tim went over there and wiped out the leftovers for lunch the next day.)  Their dessert was chocolate cake- made from scratch- and filled with bananas and cherries and topped with whipped cream.  And just in case that wasn't enough and because Mary loves her new father-in-law, they also had another chocolate cake with a chocolate glaze on it- again, made from scratch.  Can you imagine making two different kinds of yeast bread and two different cakes from scratch all in the same day- not to mention a turkey?  And then they say that every recipe was from their new German cookbook. My feet hurt just thinking about it.  We were all stuffed when we rolled away from the table.  We ended up hanging around for another couple hours watching a movie (and napping.)  We had a wonderful time and they did a great job of preparing their first feast on their own!

Will read Isaiah 62:5

  "For as a young man marries a young woman,

so shall your sons marry You,

and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,

so shall your God rejoice over you." 

 

 

Timothy's Feast...

Most of you won't recognize this young man- He's my nephew, Timothy(18y.)  He lives in Arizona with my brother and sister-in-law and family.  Like several of my nephews have done in the past, he has come to stay with us for a little while.  I think it helps when my kids move out to have another one move in- however temporary that may be. Kinda eases the whole, "No, this can't be happening!" kinda thing.

Timothy is... well, his family calls him, "That Tim boy."  He's not much of a boy in stature, but he is in spirit.  He's a big guy- over 6 foot and he's strong as an ox.  But he's very gentle.  And, for the most part, quiet.  He will never strike up a conversation with anyone.  It just won't happen.  He'll suddenly contribute to discussions, though.  The whole room becomes still and you can just see everyone start to grin and their eyes sparkle.  Tim just spoke.  He didn't notice, though, 'cause he hardly looked up. He's very intelligent and can tell you all about... well, just about everything.  But if you ask him a personal question- even as simple as, 'How ya doin'?" he will take the longest time to answer- if he answers- and usually it's more of a shrug of the shoulders.  He's much more animated late in the evening and you can hear him all over the house, playing with the little kids and watching funny movies- just yucking it up. He's very hands-on- loves to work on engines, motors and anything mechanical. He has a silly streak that is a pleasure to watch. One of my favorite things to observe about Timothy is his intense concentration.  Even with the most mundane task.  He stands by the kitchen table with his nose about 12 inches from his plate while making a sandwich- that's a long way to bend down.  I asked him if he'd ever had his eyes checked...eventually, he explained that his sight is perfect, he just likes to see things close up- in detail.  That's Tim, and we love him to pieces.

He was very decisive about his feast.  He was going to have a "weight" theme.  (I know I gained weight during his feast- but he wasn't talking  about that kind of weight.)  Weight, like muscle building.  The guys have a home gym and weights in their room and he's enjoying working out with John.  So, he spread the table with a white table cloth and his center pieces were various sized free weights, a pair of weight lifting gloves, a jumping rope. He put on his athletic garb and explained to his guests that he had a special feast prepared for them- Tim's Diner, and he would be their waiter.  I do declare I heard him talk more during those two hours than I have over the past two months!  He was so tickled with what he had prepared for them and he was giddy as he went around the table serving them each course.  He found aluminum water bottles for them at the dollar store and that was his gift.   He made everyone very happy with tortilla chips with nacho cheese- mixed with salsa and chili.  Topped with jalapenos. Dr. Pepper to drink- they have this Ten Calorie type that's advertised as "10 manly calories." His main course was wonderfully seasoned hamburgers, topped with pepper jack cheese, on a toasted roll and tator tots.  All the fixings for the burgers were arranged on a big tray. The dessert was "cherries in the snow." 

Will read Romans 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."  We must have complete confidence that He exists, we must seek Him, we must come to Him and it pleases Him to reward us.

    

John's Feast...

This is John, age 16. He's kinda cute, isn't he? What can I say about John?  Pretty sure he's the tallest of our boys- so far.  It's been disputed on several occasions as it's a coveted position, especially when you're the fifth son. He's very thin and so when he walks... I don't know, it just makes me laugh. It's more of a lope than a walk, maybe.  Long strides. He spent Black Friday talking to folks in the long lines at Best Buy about God and the Bible.  His idea.  John has the uncanny ability to push personal discomfort aside and push on with what he wants to do. It's not that he doesn't feel it, he'll confess that his knees were shaking, but he just forges ahead. He wants me to say that the knee-knocking stopped after the third person. I suppose the captive audience was too good an opportunity to resist.  He smiles a lot and most people appreciate the guts it takes to go up and initiate a conversation with a total stranger.  And he genuinely likes people and that comes across, too.  He finds joy in everything.  He has a beautiful voice and loves to sing- he can mimic just about any singer you can name. Amazing range. He's a big help around here and easy company. He likes to camp out in cold weather, forge knives, build things, carve, and even sew.  He's creative and always busy.  He doesn't play video games or watch TV.  Maybe a movie once or twice a month.  Weird, huh?  But I'm not complaining.  We just  love the stuffing's out of him!

He met his guests by bursting through the curtain in a "straight-jacket." (A turtle neck shirt with the sleeves pinned together in the back.)  He was talking to several of his own personalities and finally said he'd go and fetch "the chief.'  When he returned, dressed normally with a clipboard in hand, he pulled the curtain down to reveal a gate of PVC bars across the doorway.  He explained why they were here and that he had hopes to rehabilitate them so they could return to be productive members of society. If they played nice and didn't spit on anyone they might one day get out. All the names were read as the gate would open and then shut ominously behind them.  Yes, he had an insane asylum themed feast.  There was a plain white tablecloth on the table- chess, dominoes and cards were the centerpieces.  No candles- that would have not been safe!  The appetizers were "meds"- consisting of trail mix in little paper dosage cups served on a tray with a side cup of jello. He had a cafeteria style lunch line where he slopped food onto their compartmentalized styrofoam plates.  Mashed potatoes, sausage gravy and biscuits. No forks allowed- you might hurt yourself. He had Jones sodas with those little straws that bend.  Dessert was chocolate pudding filled crepes with whipped cream and mixed berries. (One of their favorite shows has this guy in a mental hospital and he gets caught in a restricted area. He gets out of the fix by dropping his drawers, reaching for the sky and yelling, "Pudding!"  So that was the reason for the pudding-ish dessert.)  His gifts were these bouncy balls that are attached to your wrist by a piece of elastic and wristband of nylon and velcro. I had to retire when they started slinging those things around.  They are much more skilled, today, than they were yesterday evening.  Nothing broken, to date, even with a constant bump-bump bump being heard. 

 Will read from Malachi chapter 3- "Test Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, bring the whole offering into the tithe house and see if I do not open the windows of heaven and poor out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to hold it."  We need to live that way- don't hold anything back.

Let the Feasting begin!!!!!

It's that time of the year, again! Most of my blog readers have been waiting patiently for this day, but for the newbies here~

Explanation of Feast Days:

• Quite a few years ago, I decided that the holiday season was just too full of thoughts and energy surrounding the "stuff we get." (As the parent of 8 children, I just didn't see any way around the holidays being a disappointment because of tight financial circumstances.) Children are naturally generous, but we can really ruin that by making the holidays about material things- which, let's face it, they won't remember a month from now, much less as they grow into adults.
• So I decided to use, loosely, the lesson of Esther and create a month of meditation on the "service we give." Let's just try to do something simple in the service of others. Acts of kindness. Memories of time spent with family that will last them a lifetime. Not about stuff that money can buy, but about service that can be freely given.
• Hence, Feast Days! On the first day of December, the children draw numbers to set up the sequence of Feast days- all fitting within the month of December, but may overflow into January. After the numbers have been drawn they all meet with me, individually, in my room and make out their menu for their Feast. It's all a grand secret. It becomes obvious that they have been putting a lot of thought into their menus for several months- and keeping it a secret- amazing! They try their best to choose dishes that are family favorites- ones they know their brothers and sisters will love. They also plan how they are going to decorate the dining room and what small gift they hope to give their siblings- there is a $5 limit on all 8 gifts and decorations, so you can imagine they are quite simple- like a pretty sparkly pencil, a holiday cup or a fancy bit of candy. The decorations can be gleaned from the attic or dollar store and with a bit of tinsel thrown in, it usually is quite festive!
• I take each child to lunch the day before their feast and then we go shopping for their ingredients. They have to heft all the food into the house while the other children are hiding upstairs. The kitchen is curtained off from prying eyes and we begin to cook. What fun this is for me to have the company of each child as they excitedly giggle and whisper about who is going to be the most surprised and who is going to like which dish the most!
• Then, my favorite part. The child opens the curtain and very ceremoniously invites his guests to the feast. The children are so sweet and encouraging about the decorations and the good smells. We sit around the table and Bill reads a scripture then we each say what we are thankful for and after the prayer, the feasting begins. The server is the child who prepared the feast and they always wait until last to serve their own plate. The food is usually stashed away in the oven to stay warm and so it is a lot of fun to see what comes out next!
• Finally the dishes are done by me- my service. 

Abe's Feast...

Abe(age 9) is known by his nick name "little man."  He's the youngest of our six sons and, like many youngest children in large families, he is a bit more grown up than other kids his age.  He's very laid back and easy going- for the most part. (Last week, we heard him sobbing up in his room.  It was a real humdinger and we waited, and waited, for him to get it all out. He came downstairs- still trying to get a grip on his emotions, and we asked what was going on.  When he was finally about to articulate clearly he waved his hands in a vague way and said, "Sometimes it just builds up."  Which is an altogether true and wise observation. By my estimation, he can take about two years of accumulating enough angst for it to finally "build up." We all finished what we were doing, cuddled on the couch and watched a funny Xmas movie.  That seemed to fix what ailed him.)  Maybe he just needed to slow down.  He's one of those kids that enjoy the occasional outing but you can see that it wears him out and when we return home he will mention, several times, how glad he is that "things are back to normal."  He loves to ride his bike- with the prerequisite daredevil stunts that Mom "needs" to see.  No one ever said that being a mom to so many sons was for the faint hearted. He is thoughtful for someone his age- he now sits with a lady at church because her granddaughter has moved away and he was worried grandma would be lonely.  He's just a very sweet boy. And did I mention we love him beyond words?

Abe did an spectacular job on his feast.  He got to go with his Dad to the bank a few weeks ago.  He'd never been inside- just the drive-thru. Apparently, he was impressed because he had a bank theme for his feast.  The bank had, literally, dozens of play dollar bills strung on garlands across the dining room, scattered on the table, hanging from the ceiling fans- (and this from the boy who won't take any of Mr. Jim's change because, "Money is the root of evil."  Mr. Jim explained that it's the love of money that causes the problem.  I suppose since the money in this case wasn't real...)  The dishes all had green on them.  The table cloth was green.  He had Mt. Dew to drink because it's green.  The most impressive part of the feast was his idea for the drive-thru.  He and his Dad found a long piece of piping in the garage and they engineered it to begin in the kitchen and end in the dining room on a downward slope.  The patrons of the bank put their deposit slip- with their name and what they wanted on their fries- chili and/or cheese- in an eye glass case. Abe had tied a string to the case and- whoosh-  he'd pull it up through the shoot.  The kids loved the fun of that.  They were even more tickled when he sent their request back down the shoot!  Dad and I helped him put the fries with the chili and cheese in a large solo cup, invert another cup on top, duct taped it together and it slid perfectly down the tube. Everyone agreed it was the best fries they'd ever had. He served homemade chicken and noodles for his main course- with peas- get it?  They're green.  He made four triple batches of noodles.  Abe always cranks the pasta maker for me and that's a whole lot of cranking. He had rice crispy treats cut into thick circles- like money- with a dumdum standing out of the top- 'cause "fancy is my middle name."  We had a great time. Bill read Matthew 6:19-34. "Consider the lilies of the field."  A good passage for Abe's feast. 

1970 orange and gold

feather border

feathery meander

Keeping an open mind...

As usual, I've been busy.  In a good, non-stressful kinda way.  Which is probably not usual.  More's the pity.

This quilt was made by my friend Jane's mom.  Yep, from a Hirschner's catalog back in the 1970's.  Jane didn't think she liked it.  Might have been a little too... orange. Of course, it's orange so I gotta love it.  I talked her into quilting it.  That really wasn't hard.  She's the one who made the decision to hand quilt it- because all of that applique is by hand.  I get that.  But and however, the quilt has been sitting in a closet for 40 years... is it really something you want to put that kind of time and commitment into? I didn't voice my reservations and, somewhat predictably, it didn't take long and she was handing me the quilt- after ripping out some of her handiwork.  Turns out she doesn't particularly care for hand quilting.  Well, you never know until you try.

So I lived with the quilt for some time.  Maybe too much, but you remember the wedding dress and the wedding, right?  I was distracted. But now, it's quilted.  She'd putting on the binding and I think she'd liking it.  Even if it is orange and gold.  Ya gotta keep an open mind. 

For the Beauty of the Earth