{Grandma Kurvers' Grass Linen Twin Sheets Repurposed}

Proud for having repurposed my Maternal Grandma's Twin Sheets!
Especially the top Grass Linen Sheet shows its beautiful linen effect.
It is actually NOT linen, but often called China grass ←(click it) also called grass cloth.
Also called Ramie or Nettle Cloth: Terminology: What is ramie or nettle cloth? ←click it.

Anna Maria Kurvers - Kamer (Room) 16...

All of her grass-linen twin sheets had to be labeled for the time she lived at the nursing home.

Here my Grandma, who also used to be my Godmother, is visiting me at my previous home in Panningen, The Netherlands.
She came walking to my home, from the nursing home... This is in January 1974.

This is on Tuesday, September 17, of 1974, where I visit her after work.
She turned 87 that day! 

My miniature Dachshund Mauzie, is on her bed; she loved her very much.
Happy moments and fond memories!

Mauzie with my 'Oma'... and those are the twin sheets that I got.

On our trip to Florida in June, we also found at a TJ Maxx a queen sheet set that I used for repurposing the twin sheets by adding some width and length.
Here I am on my knees, measuring and cutting the sheet...

From the strips I'd cut, I made each sheet wider, over the entire length.
The two pillow shams I took apart and cut in half. Those strips I used for adding length to the entire width of the original sheet (visible in right corner) to match the already longer cut strip.

Here still the stitching from those pillow shams is visible and the fold but after one laundering that was smooth.

With my Mom, on July 29, 1983, visiting 'Oma' at the assisted living.
Exactly one month before we immigrated.
'Oma' was born on the 100th anniversary of Constitution Day, on September 17, of 1887
She died on February 8, 1985 at the blessed age of 97.
On September 26, 1984 during one of my visits from the USA, I took Mom along for one last visit to my Godmother and 'Oma'... She died 4 months later.
Oma has been a great role model for many of us, living a simple life of hard work and few luxuries.
A very devout Christian, like my Grandpa 'Opa' also was.
Opa used to walk every morning with his children to Church, for Mass before school...!
Mom told me these things and they mean a lot to me.
Raising her 12 children during WWI, the Depression years and WWII was not easy.
She outlived her eldest son and one daughter and also was widowed for 14+ years...
Her Twin Sheets still are used for SWEET DREAMS; evoked by fond family memories of a strong Maternal Grandma and Godmother... My Pieter died on one of her sheets that I used on the hospital bed here at home.

She was a great ROLE MODEL!

{Third Week of Advent 2014}

Wishing you all a very cozy and happy Third Week of Advent 2014!

Creating a warm and cozy atmosphere works wonders for the colder season.

Used our cotton Zweigart Aida tablecloth with the German Arzberg porcelain votive candle holders in white with real gold.

My sister Diny, was so kind for getting these for me in The Netherlands, when I found them in a Dutch magazine.

Having our own Magnolia Grandiflora trees, does also provide leaves that I have sprayed with gold paint.

Added Nandina berries with a few Ilex berries as well.

Nosegay from spices, seeds and hazelnuts, made in South Tyrol, Italy.

Thanks Johanna from +Silber-und-Rosen-Shop  for the name: In the Salzburger Land "Gewürzsträusschen".

Our gold sprayed Magnolia leaves tied with raffia. 

The big candle is still from our 25th wedding anniversary, it was a gift from dear friends.

This fireplace is from The Netherlands, Doensen Sfeerhaarden & bouwbedrijf in Venlo.

On eBay I once got a hold of this Baccarat Crystal Vesuve / Vesuvius Caviar Server (2 pcs) because the inset was missing... But it works perfect for floating candles with fresh flowers.

Here I used fresh cranberries for inside.

The table runner in Portuguese Guimarães white work, we bought in Coimbra in 1994,  while on tour through Spain Portugal for 19 days.

Used on top of this red Hardangar tablecloth it looks perfect.

Making photos during the dark days of the year is hard in itself but trying to capture those flames of burning votives is even harder...

Don't you love the hand embroiderd detail of that Portuguese Guimarães white work?

Wishing all of you a very warm and meaningful 3rd Advent Sunday and a great week ahead!

Stay warm and healthy...

{Fall Colors & Clearing the Underbrush}

A pity that the spectacular golden color of our Sugar Maple tree Acer saccharum never lasted that long... This year the leaves went all down in one week time!

This is on November 12, and only one third of its golden leaves are on the tree, the rest is on the lawn...

Husband Pieter, the gardener, is seen on the other side of the creek, to the left...

This is a photo from November 5, and the color starts to become golden and the Red Maple Tree, or Acer rubrum is not quite red...

Back to November 12...

This photo is from November 5, after husband Pieter did clear the underbrush on this side.

You can see the clippings piled up alongside the creek.

First time in four years, since his quadruple bypass in September of 2010.

A chain saw of 16" (it got replaced recently as this one died...); hand saw with an extendable lopper for cutting thick and high branches.

The wood garden's floor in this section, is full of long pine needles...

The final wild corner to be tackled!

Hard work and a lot of muscle power is needed for doing so.

Pieter is blessed with a strong and 'again' healthy body.

Pieter holding the loppers, they were a steal of a deal at Tuesday Morning 

Those heaps of cut off branches make for safe hiding places where chipmunks and other critters can hide.

Soon it will decompose and be added to the soil as humus.

The creek is always changing its shape.

Lovely when it is calm, but it can become a roaring river.

We both are pleased with the open view of our wood garden.

Lots of shrubs have been removed, for easier maintenance in the coming years.