Blog Archives
The Gifts We Give
“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” ~David C. Gross
I came home from work yesterday and there was a box from my mom. Inside was an afghan that she knitted. It’s pretty and soft and smells just like her. It’s as comforting as a long hug and the perfect gift to find on a dreary February day.
Cat in a blanket (Photo credit: pelican)
It got me to thinking about the gifts we give our kids. What is it that we pass on that they’ll love and remember? My love of gardening, cooking, and occasional crafty whim can all be traced back to my mom. At the time I had no idea that the from-scratch dinners, carefully tended clematis, and DIY projects that were a constant part of my youth would profoundly shape my interests as an adult. I would’ve of never guessed that my 45-year-old self would smell every item from mom, happy and comforted to find her scent.
I wish these fond memories for my own children. I couldn’t knit to save my life, but every pot of soup, homemade birthday cake and book talk is a love letter to my kids that they’ll have long after they’ve flown the coop. At least I’d like to think so.
What is a gift that you cherish? What gift would you like to pass on to your kids?
I hope your day is full of love and fond memories!
Love,
Becky
Apple Shrunken Heads!
Now, shrunken heads for all occasions, collect ‘em, swap ‘em, give ‘em to your witch doctor friends.
I have to share one of my favorite Halloween projects, apple shrunken heads. They’re easier to carve than pumpkins and are cute in a perfectly creepy way!
All you need is apples, lemon juice, melon baller, and paring knife. You can adorn them with anything you have lying around your pantry. I’ve used Craisins for beady, red eyes and cloves work spectacularly as well. You can use rice or broken toothpicks for teeth and twine for hair. Let your imagination run wild! Here’s how you do it:
- Peel and core desired number of apples (I usually core them from the bottom as the stem on top adds interest).
- Soak peeled apples in lemon juice for 5-10 minutes to keep them from browning.
- Use paring knife and melon baller to carve features. The melon baller works great for a sunken eye appearance. There’s no wrong answer here so be as creative as you like when carving! If you’re going to be displaying your heads together, it looks best to have a variety of faces.
- Put your finished heads on a baking sheet in a 200 degree oven for 3-4 hours if you want quicker shrinking time. Otherwise, set in a dry spot and let nature take its course.
The shrunken heads look fabulous sitting on a platter as a Halloween centerpiece and will shrink more over time.
Happy Fall to all my Lipstick Chat Friends!
Love,
Becky
