MY HIPPIE WEDDING DRESS

More then a few of you have asked where I got the lovely old lace-covered dress on my mannequin. It was my wedding dress. 1974. True vintage. As you know, I grew up in the turbulent sixties and seventies. I was totally into the anti-establishment scene. Peace, Love, and Flower- Power. Tom and I wanted a very non-traditional, very simple wedding. I went to a department store and bought my dress off the rack. It cost less then $100.00. A 'Gunne Sax' dress. (If you are over the age of 50 you might recognize the name of Jessica McClintock's fashion line popular in the early 70's). I made a hood and attached it to the dress, wore sandals on my feet, and carried a bouquet of wild flowers. My husband wore beige slacks and a cream colored 'wedding shirt' (also popular in the 70’s). I made our invitations and together we wrote our own vows. Our reception was a big picnic in the park. We roasted a pig, and drank champagne.

If I had to do it all over again....I'd do it exactly the same way. ❤️

A SHABBY CHIC NECKLACE

I have been obsessed with making these fabric flower necklaces for a spring sale I have coming up. They are made completely of left over fabric pieces (that I have curled over fire to get the curled flower petal effect), lace, yarn, ribbon, tulle, bead, feather and button SCRAPS! Each one is unique and one-of-a-kind. Each one has a complimentary hand-dyed silk ribbon tie attached. They are inexpensive to make and so much fun to wear. I think they will be a hit.

REMEMBERING JAMES

My brother, James, was a gentle man...easy going and carefree. Mostly. He did have a stubborn streak, and believe me, you didn't want to cross him if he made up his mind about something.
We were two years apart in age and as kids we were very close-in fact we were all close-Jim, Debbie, Dan and I-and often preferred to play together, just the four of us...building forts in our back yard, or putting on horse shows or circuses for the rest of the neighborhood kids.

In middle school Jim and I took private music lessons together. I played the accordian and Jim played guitar.  We always thought we would start our own band. (We never did.)

But, when we got to high school, we went our separate ways. I became fully ensconced in the social scene and Jim preferred to be alone in his room playing his guitar.

After high school I went off to college.  Jim graduated by the skin of his teeth and started working. He ventured into the entrepreneurial world and started a couple of businesses of his own.  Eventually, he settled into learning the Glass Glazing Trade and that is what he did for the past 20 years of his life, most recently working for the University of Wisconsin glazing the windows of buildings on the Madison campus and the the new University of Wisconsin Hospital (of which he was so very proud. He relished pointing out his beautiful work to me while we were there for his treatments last year. But, I am getting ahead of myself....)

I graduated, got married, and began raising a family. Our worlds were very different in those years and as a result we didn't see a lot of one another.

From almost the beginning of his early adult life, Jim took winter vacations to warmer climes.  At first he went to Florida for a week, then two. Then he ventured farther south to places like Jamaica for three weeks, and Costa Rica for four. It wasn't long before he had figured out a job-share where he worked for six months here during the spring and summer, and went to Central America to live for six months over the fall and winter.  He loved hot weather. He loved the ocean. He loved to fish, and snorkel and dive.  He told me recently that he always felt more at home there in his tropical paradise then he ever felt here. He said he had found the place where he belonged.

About 10 years ago, my husband, Tom and I took our family to Costa Rica over our spring break to visit Uncle Jim. We spent a week there together enjoying the magical place he so loved. We made some wonderful new memories and re-established our close bond. Our family liked Costa Rica so much, the next year Tom and I took the kids to nearby (relatively speaking) Belize over spring break. Then we convinced Jim to go there the following winter instead of Costa Rica. He did. He said he knew instantly that was where he would make his permanent winter home. We went to visit him there a couple years later. He taught Tom and my son, Austin, how to scuba dive. He took us deep sea fishing and snorkeling at his favorite haunts. We drank red wine and savored the island foods.  I will forever cherish those special days we spent together.

Four years ago, my confirmed bachelor brother fell in love with a beautiful Belizean girl. He brought Daria home that spring and they had a simple wedding in our back yard.

Eighteen months after that, Jim was diagnosed with Stage IV Esophageal Cancer and the fight for his life began. For much of the past two years Jim was sick and/or incapacitated. But, he never complained. Not ever.

I spent many of those days with him. (As did my mom, who was such a source of strength to him. She literally put her life on hold to help care for Jim.) We spent time reliving childhood memories. And, we talked a lot about the future. He had such big plans.

On February 15, 2010, at his home in Belize with Daria by his side, Jim lost his battle.

I will miss him terribly.

VALENTINE SUGAR COOKIES

For years I have been making these scrumptous sugar cookies for Valentines Day. The only other time I make them is at Christmas because they are a bit of work! But, they are by far the very BEST SUGAR COOKIES EVER! Crisp and flavorful.

This morning I made a big batch for my Valentine.
 I thought I'd share the recipe with you. Compliments of Martha Stewart. (:
Enjoy!

4 sticks of butter at room temperature
3 cups os sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
5 cups of all purpose flour (plus some for dusting)

Royal Icing (recipe to follow)

In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, beat butter and sugar on medium until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, vanilla, and salt; mix on medium speed until combined. With mixer on low speed, add flour in two batches, mixing just until incorporated.

Turn out the dough onto a clean work surface. Divide in half, wrap each half in plastic. Refrigerate for a couple hours (or up to one week).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line large cookie sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one of the halves of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out shapes. Transfer shapes to prepared sheets, placing about 2 inches apart. Chill in refrigerator or freezer until firm, about 15 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough.

Bake, rotating sheets halfway through until cookies are golden around the edges and slightly firm to the touch, about 15 minutes.  Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely.  Decorate with Royal Icing.

Cookies can be kept in an airtight container, layered between sheets of waxed paper or parchment paper for up to three days.

Royal Icing:
1 pound of powered sugar
5 tablespoons meringue powder
Liquid or gel food coloring

Combine sugar, meringue powder, and about 1/2 cup of water. Mix together in mixing bowl with paddle attachment on low speed. Beat until mixture is fluffy, about 7-8 minutes.  To thin icing, add extra water, one teaspoon at a time. To add color, dip toothpick into food coloring and gradually mix into frosting until you get the desired shade.