THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Our Little Kitty, age 20, had been missing for over a week.  We had looked everywhere for him, thinking the worst had happened.  Little Kitty was completely blind and deaf and was totally reliant on us to feed and carry him around.  One day he got out and disappeared-- we assumed he was somewhere  around the outside or in the barn, but no trace of him was found.  Until yesterday, when

my husband, Fred was sitting outside the pharmacy and noticed a large "Lost Cat" sign in the window, which looked exactly like our cat!  He called the telephone number on the poster and drove over to the home and there he was, Little Kitty!  He had been found by a kind neighborhood family, they had fed him, cared for him, and even taken him to the vet (who clipped his nails).  They said that they had found him in the woods and he seemed like he was trying to find his way home.  Thank you to this kind family who took such good care of our cat and showed true  animal compassion. 

FRESH FROM THE VINEYARD

These beautiful,  blue Concord grapes are the best for jelly making.  They must be picked when fully ripe,  (for the best flavor and aroma) just before the birds discover them.

Wash, and gently pick the ripest ones.

Mash the grapes with a potato masher, careful not to press too hard to avoid the bitterness of broken grapeseeds.

Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly, until the rich purple color comes out.

Layer cheesecloth into colander or sieve, tie, and let juice drip into large canning jar or bowl.

Take the strained grape juice, add one cup of water and 1 box of pectin, bring to a full rolling boil over high heat.  Boil for one minute.  Quickly add 7 cups of white granulated sugar to the juice, bring to a second boil, stirring constantly and until it cannot be boiled down, about one minute.  Ladle into clean canning jars, lid and then band.  Turn upside down for 30 seconds to make sure there are no leaks. 

Put jars into a large water bath, and boil for 20 minutes.  Lift out of bath and cool on towel.

MAD BOMBER HAT AND SCARF - Minky Fleece in White Shag and Jaguar Wintryfleece. Very warm and soft to wear. Minky shag is a challenge to sew, raw edges must be covered in grosgrain ribbon.

Warm as Toast

CAR COAT  - Faux fur Minky curly lamb  and  Wintryfleece in charcoal grey.  Lined with white satin, two buttons, very light and ultrasoft.

COZY WINTER HANDBAG

Cosy Winter Handbag in Toscano Black Velvet, lined with Red Slipper Satin and Red Wool, one button closure

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FROM THE GARDEN

Concord Grapes and Mile-High Heirloom Tomatoes

SEWING

Duvet Cover made from Vintage sheets, Percale over 600 thread count, hand screened, button closure

SEWING

Summer Pocketbook - Original silkscreen print in Kona cotton, velveteen lined, button closure.

SEWING

SUMMER POCKETBOOK Original Silkscreen Print in Kona Cotton with Sheep Button Closure

VIOLETS IN ORGANDY FABRIC

BARN TULIPS

SHENANDOAH Custom Fabric, Kona Cotton

POP ART CHICKENS

Anna Sewell's Birthplace on Church Plain, Great Yarmouth, England. This tiny house has been restored and is now a Tea House, close to St. Nicholas Church. Anna Sewell was a Quaker and is the author of the beloved, BLACK BEAUTY

FEBRUARY FAIRIES, Custom Fabric, Kona Cotton

RED BANK I, Custom fabric in Kona Cotton

SPRING III Custom fabric in Kona Cotton

SPRING III 100% Kona Cotton Fabric

LITTLE FOXES, Custom fabric, Kona cotton

AMERICAN LADY BUTTERFLY

The American Lady Butterfly silkscreen print with gold leaf.

SWEET!

Autumn is the time for strawberry jam making. I found these sweet, half-pint Mason jars, which are a anniversary limited edition and plan to use them for Thanksgiving table decorations. I also added my secret ingredient (from the herb garden) for extra accent!

WORLD TRADE CENTER 1985

One of my most interesting projects was the design and illustration of a 24 page book that was produced in 1985 for the NYNJ Port Authority. I remember taking my two young daughters with me to photograph the World Trade Building. It became a family outing, a day to visit all of the places in lower Manhattan that we had talked about. The WTC was filled with eager young school children on their class trip to see the building for the first time. The book would eventually become a promotional piece to be given out to all the school children who toured the building and observation desk. It would be a learning tool to keep them busy on the bus or subway trip back home.

After 911, I forgot about the project until yesterday. My grandson was told to wear red, white and blue to school for a 911 Remembrance Day. I pulled the book and the old sketches out of the file to show him. I told him about the observation deck atop the WTC and how far you could see when looking through the binoculars. I told him that there was a wonderful top floor exhibit designed by one of my favorite illustrators , Milton Glaser, who featured the many different breads of the world, and the trade that influenced them. It opened up a dialogue
of different cultures and understanding, perhaps a learning tool for the future.

JUST LIKE YESTERDAY

Our dear friend Zenia and her wonderful husband Mike visited us yesterday afternoon from Seattle. I last saw Zenia 35 years ago. We met in New Brunswick, NJ, fresh out of college and looking for our first jobs. We had so much fun together, taking Tai Chi classes in the park and making soap, and planning the future. We never lost touch with each other, we corresponded over the miles and yesterday was magical as we caught up on all of life's experiences, just like yesterday, it was perfect!

SPANISH PARADISE EXHIBIT AT THE NY BOTANICAL GARDENS

The Alhambra, a Palace of Moorish grandeur and elegance, is recreated at the NY Botanical Garden. The Alhambra's gardens and architecture represent sophisticated plantsmanship, art and engineering that were the hallmarks of Islamic culture from 711 to 1492. Washington Irving, famous American author, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" visited Alhambra in Granada, Spain in 1859. The following excerpt is from the book, "Tales of the Alhambra"

THE ALHAMBRA BY MOONLIGHT
I have sat for hours at my window, inhaling the sweetness of the garden and musing on the chequered fortunes of those whose history is dimly shadowed out in the elegant memorials around. Sometimes I have issued forth at midnight, when everything was quiet, and have wandered over the whole building. Who can do justice to a moonlight night in such a climate and in such a place! The temperature of an Andalusian midnight in summer is perfectly ethereal. We seem lifted up into a purer atmosphere; there is a serenity of soul, a buoyancy of spirits, an elasticity of frame that render mere existence enjoyment. The effect of moonlight, too, on the Alhambra, has something like enchantment. every chasm of time, every mouldering tint and weatherstain disappears, the marble resumes its original whiteness, the long colonnades brighten in the moonbeams, the halls are illuminated with a softened radiance, until the whole edifice reminds one of the enchanted palace of an Arabian Tale.

Washington Irving
Spring 1859

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

Happy Fathers Day! Fred gets his own very comfy slippers!

THE BEAR POND FERRY

GENEALOGY MADNESS!

I have been immersed in genealogical research for the past few weeks -- no, I was not raptured up. So intent on getting my family tree finished for the big presentation next week for the third grade immigration project! I will be sharing some tips on how to use the internet to find long lost relatives and research family history. With my own family investigation over the last few months, I have discovered and connected several important answers to the puzzle of one missing family - the Garnhams. I was able to trace them through the census, UK village records and the most important document - the family will!

TOMATO POTATO

I came across a fun magazine illustration that I had done years ago. Working from a photo that was given to me from the art director, I rendered the plant as they wanted me to. I never really saw an actual Tomato-Potato Plant, but I think of it every year when I go to get my new crop of tomato plants. Today grandson Chris and I picked out heirloom, cherry and plum tomatos and planted them inside of the bamboo obelisks that we had made. Now we just have to wait until August!