The Pleasant Times

It Was A "Blast"-- my unexpected "vacation" and how you can avoid one!

2013-06-11T10:53:00.001-07:00

The view from my 7th floor window Terrible and sudden pain only comparable to childbirth (but without the reward) brought about an unusual start to my June. I had my first experience going "under" and my first ever operations as the doctor laser-blasted a large kidney stone that was going to ruin my life! Everything happened so quickly, but there were many answers to prayer and I was very

"It just needs new curtains!"

2013-05-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

The title for this post is a quote from Betty, who said that about some old run down house in Australia. I happened to see the need for a curtain in a run-down old room in my house, and truly it does make a difference! The photo below is a portion of the laundry room. It is awaiting its "Cinderella" moment and so little has been done in the decorating department, excepting for a few

Numbers Game

2013-04-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hopscotch Theophile ... Buy This at Allposters.com Today at lunch, the children made up a game out of numbers. One would say a number, and the others would have to guess the significance of it. They were choosing numbers that were the ages of the family, or the numbers of certain elements (they are out to memorize the Periodic Table of Elements). We expanded the game further by guessing a

Pattern Weights

2013-03-16T13:19:00.001-07:00

A few little fabric swatches, sewn together and filled with beans, make quick weights to hold down patterns without pins. I'm trying them out today to see how we'll they work.

The new teapot

2013-02-25T19:37:00.001-08:00

I have found a basic, everyday teapot to replace "Old Splatters." I do not usually name my tea ware, but in a way I'll miss "Old Splatters" so I think I'll name this one "Gertrude." She looks like a very proper but friendly teapot, and she does not splash or dribble.

Old Splatters

2013-02-23T11:54:00.000-08:00

I bought this teapot on sale for $5.00 at a local grocery store. Upon use, I discovered it has a crooked spout, which soon chipped, and it splashes and drips while pouring out. The Pleasant Times' field editors have taken to calling it "Old Splatters" when it appears on the tea table. I wrapped it up in a towel, pinning it close with a clothes pin, to catch the dribbles. It looks like a bandit

Another Busy Bitty Baby Blanket

2013-02-17T18:34:00.001-08:00

Here's another busy blanket. This time I found that knotting some of the ribbon at the middle made a more interesting texture. I also found some shoelace to add to this one, which I hope will be good and chewy.

Quick Sew Busy Baby Bitty Blanket Tutorial

2013-02-16T12:55:00.002-08:00

Here is a fun sewing project to make for older babies that can hold something on their own, and it uses up those little leftover bits of trim in your sewing stash! This little blanket would make a nice baby gift, or a quick project for mother's moment off to do something creative and make something for her own baby. It is so easy, I do not think it will end up in the unfinished project pile!

A Chicken Shower

2013-02-07T22:09:00.001-08:00

One of my neighbors became the "grandmother" of a baby chick. One of her hens turned out to be an excellent mother, sitting on her egg faithfully and lo and behold, 20-some days later, it hatched! My neighbor was so excited! I thought it would be fun to throw a shower for her, to mark the occasion. I have had this farm print fabric in my stash for years. I matched it up with some

The Rules

2013-01-28T22:36:00.000-08:00

By The Pleasant Times' Etiquette Lady, Miss Rose There are certain rules to life that used to be just floating around in the air we breathed. Unfortunately, due to climate change, these rules are no longer present in large quantities in the air, and have been so diminished and diluted that society will have to start issuing them in print as a reminder. Here is one of the most neglected rules,

Gray Days to Glimmering Blog Party

2013-01-21T22:44:00.004-08:00

I'm going to do something unusual and join a Q&A blog party! I liked the name of this one! What a nice thing to do on a gray day-- try to make it glimmer! We are fogged in, so it is very grey around here, but it is glimmering at the same time, since everything is also covered in ice and frost. It really isn't grey outside-- there is a lot of light bouncing around in the fog! It's

"God Thing?"

2013-01-21T17:41:00.000-08:00

By The Pleasant Times' Etiquette Lady Miss Rose As many long-time readers of this column would guess, I like to err on the side of "traditional." I think the "traditional" way of doing, dressing, saying or behaving is probably the safest way in many cases. I feel very strongly that we should stay with tradition in our language. There are many areas of language I could write about today, but

Super Easy Pineapple Smoothie

2013-01-19T13:40:00.000-08:00

Giant Pineapple... Buy This at Allposters.com This was popular with our Saturday breakfast. Makes 4 servings. Ingredients: 1 can pineapple 1/8 teaspoon coconut extract 4-6 ice cubes Blend until smooth. You may want to double or triple the ingredients, as it is so good you'll want seconds!

Tea Cup Thursday: The Colclough Ladies

2013-01-09T23:39:00.001-08:00

Today I want to show you to my two Colclough tea cups. I am not sure what the pattern is officially called-- I call it Crinoline Lady. Though they look like identical twins, upon closer inspection there are some interesting differences. One was bought at a thrift store, another at a bargain price at an antiques shop. Neither came with its proper saucer. The one above is on a

A Pleasant New Year To You!

2012-12-31T21:04:00.000-08:00

A Year's Work

2012-12-21T23:27:00.003-08:00

Around a year ago, I started making a wedding gift for my friend of 20+ years, Rebecca. By the time her wedding had come and gone, I was still working on it. She assured me that it was okay to be late with a wedding gift, as long as it gets to the bride within a year's time. I finished it and sent it with about a couple months to spare! I knew that Rebecca appreciated old-fashioned things. I

Some News

2012-12-21T21:48:00.001-08:00

So exciting! The Pleasant Times' Printable Christmas Village was mentioned by blogger Monica Hazelton on NBCLatino.com!

Happy End Of The World Day

2012-12-20T19:17:00.000-08:00

Happy End of the World Day! I would like to interest everyone in the idea of a new holiday, much like Christmas in that it is internationally recognized so everyone benefits from it, but formal observations are optional according to your personal beliefs. Since the End of the World is happening so often (remember last year?), we may as well make it a holiday and let everyone off of work. That

A No-Cheese Cheesecake that Works

2012-12-20T18:54:00.001-08:00

I tried this "cheesecake" recipe recently, and was pleased with the results-- it really passed for cheesecake. To find a non-dairy cheesecake that has "normal" ingredients and came together in the food processor was nice! We are not vegans, but having one in the family who can't have dairy or soy, it was hard to figure out how to make a favorite dessert that he could eat. I did not put in as

Introducing The iWonderful

2012-11-30T23:51:00.000-08:00

It seems that all the world wants an "iPad" for Christmas-- version 1,2,3, and now 3-1/2. An inventor on our staff has come up with his own tablet that can do SO MUCH MORE-- let me introduce you to the iWonderful! With its crystal-clear screen, the iWonderful is so easy to use! It can make phone calls on using your local phone service-- no cellular phone bill! If, however, you want to

Thanksgiving Decorations

2012-11-30T23:21:00.000-08:00

One last hurrah for Autumn! Today I noticed that the trees were bare-- the very few remaining leaves are hanging on through the wind storms quite bravely. Today a rose bloomed on a bush by the porch! Pretty little pink rose. Here are some things we did to decorate for Thanksgiving Dinner: The prettiest dishes and the silver were brought out for the occasion, and we made place cards for the

Teacup Thursday, "Men of Harlech"

2012-11-29T12:24:00.002-08:00

Today I'm sharing a tea cup with you for Teacup Thursday, and for Heart for Homemaking's English cup of Tea link-up. I had my tea already this morning, it was Yorkshire Gold-- and I did not take a picture of that, but I have had the same tea in this teacup before. As a matter of fact, I was drinking tea out of this cup when I had a horrendous closet-cleaning job to do one day. One needs one's

Happy Thanksgiving Day, USA!

2012-11-21T21:16:00.001-08:00

(click to enlarge) I hope all my readers have a lovely Thanksgiving Day, and that you may recognize God's blessings all around you!

Moving Walls

2012-11-15T22:16:00.000-08:00

Here's a great idea for small spaces-- movable walls! Just think of the possibilities! Even if you have an actual house instead of a little apartment, a moving wall could make a room so much more useful! I am imagining: ~A craft room with movable walls-- move a wall to put away the sewing and pull one out to start paper crafting. All storage is built in, with pull down desks and fold-out

Teacup Thursday: Cottage Cup

2012-11-14T22:45:00.002-08:00

Today for Teacup Thursday I have a cottage cup to show you. No markings on the bottom, but it looks like it could have been made in England, no? The scene is of a thatched cottage, and a boy fishing off of a bridge. There is a round birdhouse in the corner. I have a pair of these cups but no saucers, and they are fun to use when I serve tea or cocoa to children.