The Eve of The Eve

Boys are finally asleep.
Last batch of gluten free ginger snaps in the oven.
Rugelach dough ready for rolling and coating with a delicious spread of nutella.
and thinking about this piece of furniture.

This is my favorite Christmasy place in my house this year. Yes, we have the tree and the lights and the decorations, but this year, this place holds the most meaning for me.

My Grandma Ruth passed away this year and this was her dry sink. I always loved it when she had it in her kitchen. When she moved to a retirement home, I was the lucky one to hold it until I pass it on to one of my boys.

But for now, it holds my dish towel stockings (something I made myself and actually kept), red straw garland from my sister in law, a pine wreath and the most beautiful bowl (from my mother in law) of clementines. The scarf is from my very good friend Linda, always with an open ear. And what you can't see, is my Blossombabies Doll in the stocking (she missed this photo shoot) from a friend I made over a year ago on Twitter. Yes, I met a friend on Twitter.

So you see, this little piece of furniture tells a lot about me and the friends and family I keep.

I hope that you have a little piece of something in your home that reminds you of how lucky you are to be alive this day and this Christmas.

Thanks for being a part of this blog.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Joyce Plates

I mentioned in the Sangwich post about the plates my grandmother painted for me, and here is a picture of my favorite ones.

Grandma Joyce held a loose brush and let the brush design the flowers and leaves. She could finish a plate in less than 10 minutes. They are so free and lovely.

A treasure to cherish. Unfortunately they are beginning to chip in places and every time I entertain the idea of storing them for special occasions only, I get sad. That storage place isn't for special occasions, it is for dusting off and reconsidering, and repacking only to re-find years and years later.

And every time I think about boxing them up, I hear Grandma saying, "oh, Nooooo" and making that face she always did when she disagreed.

Grandma Joyce had many health issues at the end of her life and I made the decision to fly from Chicago to Buffalo to visit her in the hospital. She couldn't talk (she may have had a breathing tube, can't remember) and my mom and I were visiting with her telling her about life and the beautiful weather we were having.

In true 'Joyce' form, she wrote down on paper: Go out in sunshine. She never wanted any one to take care of her and certainly didn't want anyone to waste time in a hospital talking at a sick woman.

That was the last I talked with Grandma. She died two days later.

And as the spring comes, along with more sunshine and tiny flower buds and petals, I think of Grandma.

Everyday.

Go out in sunshine.