Refurbished Upholstered Stool

     An old upholstered stool has slumbered in the storage area of the basement for more than twenty years. I picked it up for a couple of dollars at an estate sale with the intention of refurbishment but as usual things piled up (boxes and other projects!) and it was neglected, but not forgotten. Midwinter weather prompted a basement overhaul and I carted the stool outside to tackle the cobwebs and spider eggs (ew!). After unscrewing and removing the top, which was badly worn and dirty, I cleaned the wood framework and rubbed it with lemon oil. A trip to the local hobby store provided a piece of four inch foam to increase the height of the cushion. The next week, a snow day gifted me with the time to sew and reupholster the top of the stool. My scrap box held two strips of a green and gold damask that were left over from a giant pillow cover I had made the previous year. After joining them together lengthwise and sewing box pleats at the corners,  there was just enough fabric to staple to the top frame.

     The result was an interesting piece of furniture that coordinates with the living room and can be used as either extra seating or as a table if topped with a tray. I loved it even before I gave it a final rub of more lemon oil to shine and feed that thirsty old wood!

Pretzel Bread

     The star of our late winter meals is a new find - pretzel bread. We've always loved big soft pretzels from the mall kiosks and more recently, the pretzel rolls that have become popular in restaurants and market bakeries. These homemade loaves were simple for an experienced bread maker; the only extra step was, of course, dropping them into boiling water for thirty seconds before baking. Light in texture and easy to slice, the bread is a great accompaniment to soup, stew or salad, and makes a heavenly grilled cheese with cheddar and provolone. There is something about the slight saltiness and the soft buttery crust that really pleases the palate. A second baking was quick on the heels of the first and shared with family and co-workers.

The Nose Knows

     Duncan is a Borador with short hair - an indoor dog for all of his fourteen months of life.  Despite the fact that he is high-energy, this pup has preferred time inside the house, at least until recently when the Midwest was blanketed with several inches of snow! Dunc reveled in it, spending hours running, playing and just digging his nose under the powdery stuff. Topping off his wintery fun, the little thief stole our snowlady's carrot nose (it proved too tempting) and knocked her head off in the process!

     Later in the week as the snow melted, poor Dunc couldn't understand why no one would come out to play with him, as evidenced by the pleading look on his face

Christening Dress c. 1950

     The year was 1950 and it was deep winter in Grand Rapids. A first-born child was baptized at St. James Catholic Church with her proud parents, god-parents and grandparents in attendance. The tiny, chubby cheeked girl wore a white cotton batiste gown and matching slip, which were handmade and featured fine pintucking, pleats, embroidery and dainty lace edging. The same dress was used again in 1951 for a son, and then five more times in later years as the family grew. After the last baby was christened, the dress was  wrapped lovingly in tissue paper, placed in a box and put away in the attic. It survived the seven infants and a drafty dark space under the eaves, not only intact, but beautifully preserved without a single stain, rip or discoloration.

     When I found the outfit recently, I was astonished at its beauty as well as its pristine condition. I was third of the seven children to wear it and considered it a priceless treasure. Wanting to display it but also keep it safe, I researched the internet for ideas. The idea that appealed most was to baste the pieces on a fabric background to hold their shape and place the whole in a frame. Three lunch hours later (wintry weather was keeping me inside anyway!) the basting was complete and I stopped on my way home to purchase a frame. Before the items were placed in the frame, however, I added the copy of a photograph of Dad gazing at one of his own little treasures.

     Following are close-up photos of the beautifully skilled needlework. Every time I look, I am enchanted anew by the delicate detail.