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Passing Down Family Heirlooms, A Ring, Scissors and a Name
Over the last few days, as I was cross stitching a scissors holder in Victorian style, using perforated paper and a variegated floss, I thought about several family heirlooms that were tucked away in my daughter's bedroom. Initially I had only thought of using the...
The Best German Potato Salad for a Picnic on the Patio
German Potato Salad, warm potato salad, picnic recipes, salad potatoes, family recipes
A Pretty Plate and the Perfect Dessert
Once the Month of June rolls around, decent flavored strawberries begin to show up in the produce section of Midwest grocery stores, however they are still not the perfect berry for my palate. I am spoiled growing up in this area of the country because come late June...
Lady Liberty and a Little Girl
Traditionally, when the calendar page flipped to July it was time to dress Trout Lily Hill up in the "Stars and Stripes". I hung buntings and flags, made certain the kids had special patriotic outfits and for many years directed and organized the neighborhood bicycle...
Needle Keeper Tutorial Part II
Many years of sewing and designing creative fiber arts projects has taught me that if you plan ahead it makes for less ripping out of misplaced stitches or rethinking the design. I learned that lesson at a young age because my Grandmother made tailored coats and...
Needle Keeper Tutorial Part One
One of the things that has always fascinated me is the history of creating beautiful things from cloth and thread. My mom had a round basket that held her tangled, embroidery threads which she kept in her bedroom in the first house my family lived in. We moved from...
The Tale of Miss Mustard Seed’s Needle Keeper
Have you ever bought materials for a project but somehow didn't start the project or it wasn't the right season for the project you had in mind? I did that about six years ago when I purchased some antique grain sack scraps from an upholstery project that Marian at...
Agendas Before they were a Thing
Planners and agendas have been a part of my life for a long time. As a teacher, I prepared numerous year long course descriptions that outlined for students the topics and timeframe that would be covered in each science class. From that skeletal overview, each week...
Friday Finds
As you are reading the title of this blog post, I can certainly hear many of you asking, “Why would she go antiquing when she is supposed to be following the mandate of staying home?” Don’t worry, today is the fourteenth day of staying home for me. Just like all of...
Natural Egg Dyes
Practical Kitchen Chemistry Have you ever thought of your kitchen as a science lab? Perhaps that might be more natural for me, having spent 30 years as a high school science teacher. I thought it might be helpful in these strange times we all are experiencing to...
The Tale of the Yellow Rose
The red rose is the flower most often associated with Valentine’s Day. As a teenager and young adult, I dreamed of the day I would receive that bouquet of 12 long-stemmed red blooms from my “Prince Charming” ... my one and only ... my soul mate. Life has had a unique...
Valentine’s Day Tablescape
Pastel flowers, plenty of pink, touches of gold and winged cherubs always remind me of the beautiful antique Valentines from the Victorian era. I used that for the inspiration for this romantic table setting. I like to pick an inspiration piece as the starting point...
Made by Hand
Valentine Rag Wreath with Vintage Lace Parties and celebrations are always a big part of what happens on Trout Lily Hill. In the past, I left the Christmas wreath on the front door until there were at least glimpse’s of spring but this year our mild gray winter made...
The Thanksgiving Table
One of my favorite holiday gatherings is Thanksgiving. This holiday is all about savoring traditional family favorites while leisurely enjoying conversation with all of the people that hold a special place in my heart. Growing up in a large family meant that my...
Party Planner In Training
Say the word party or special occasion and instantly just like a horse charging from the gate as the start gun sounds, my mind is off and running at high speed dreaming, imagining and planning. The size and scope of the party never seems to intimidate me as I have...
Trout Lily Hill Established
And the tale begins, A pending marriage, a guy who wants a country home with acres of land, a gal who wants a traditional home with all the conveniences of the city. He says it must be a ranch, She says I’ll take a marble fireplace, chandeliers and a grand entryway....
