Yarn. It is simply twisted fiber made of natural or synthetic threads. I have even heard of some eccentrics spinning their pet’s fur or their own hair to make yarn. That’s a bit on the fringe – no pun intended! Perhaps working with yarn speaks to something in our genes of those ancient days when all clothing was handmade in order to survive. If you ask any crafter of yarn, they will tell you it is therapeutic, mysteriously addictive and deeply fulfilling to work and finish a project. Also, there is a tremendous amount of pride that makes each project special and precious. I overheard a woman at a fiber artists’ guild telling a story of a scarf she had made and happened to be wearing that evening. The stitches were impeccable as was the exquisite beading work. The scarf was so eye-catching that the receptionist at her dentist office offered to buy it right off her neck. The woman simply replied, “You cannot afford to pay the worth of it.” The receptionist did not understand it was not simply the materials and the time it took to make the scarf but also the love that was poured into making it that made it priceless.
My love of crocheting, like cooking, has become a part of my life through the influence of previous generations. My Nana’s couch was always draped with knitted parts of sweaters waiting to be fitted together. Many times, she would use my sister or me as a mannequin to double check her work. Regrettably, I have only one simple brown sweater she made that has survived over the years. It has small holes in it and is not particularly pretty but I cannot bring myself to throw it away as it is one of the precious few physical things I have left of her. Nana B used to crochet placemats for the aforementioned dining room table. (See previous entry.) Even with four children, my Mom found time to crochet us ponchos or make warm granny square blankets. It is Mom who taught me when I was a young girl how to crochet. I remember my initial fascination of watching the metal hook bobbing in and out of the loops of colorful yarn. It took me years of practice and patience to feel the correct yarn tension while utilizing the hook to make the fabric.
I started working full time and, truthfully, when dating took up most of my spare time, I dropped my creative outlet. I occasionally would feel a creative surge and tried sewing and making floral wreaths but it never lasted for long. For a few decades, I had put aside my crochet needle. After Nate was born, I felt unnecessarily chained to the house. During his newborn years when his feedings and diaper changes were every couple of hours, I did not have much time in between to do much. By not doing anything creative, I slipped into a depression I barely could admit to myself let alone anyone else.
Then one day as I was stewing in my seemingly endless boredom, I was reorganizing books in a bookcase and came across a clear plastic bag full of crochet needles. I bought them years ago at a garage sale when I thought I would renew my desire to create. The needle hooks were miniscule and obviously made to work thread for lace. Excitedly I went to the craft store and purchased a book with several patterns of lacey snowflakes. The patterns were easy and could be made within a short amount of time. It took a few flakes before my hands remembered the required tension and for my brain to recall how to make the stitches but I was off making dozens of snowflakes. As I finished each one, it filled that desire to see something accomplished quickly and filled that need to be creative which helped banish the doldrums of the everyday routine. It was truly an answer to my prayers. I was so grateful to God that I gave all the proceeds of the snowflake sales to my church’s Christmas collection – just paying it forward.
I have found a few resources to help fuel the fiber fever. Knit and Crochet Today is a show on Create TV(PBS) that offers expert advice and visual how-to’s as does YouTube. Sign up for free at Lion Brand Yarn and receive weekly emails containing free knitting and crochet patterns. Also, check out your local library and see what pattern books they have. Most of the pattern books I own are due to checking out books they had and liking them so much I just had to have them for myself. To see some amazing artistry, check out Etsy.com and click on the crochet category.
My grandparents were a huge influence in my childhood and even now into adulthood. My Mom’s father is Italian and her mother a Filipina. When walking into their house, the first words from them won't be, “Oh, it’s nice to see you.” More often the greeting is, “Ya hungry?” There is often something cooking on the stove giving off an overwhelming scent so delicious it invokes instant salivation. Shortly after arrival and seated at the dining room table, a description of a recently made dish accompanied with Pop-pop’s grin which tells me I missed a great meal. Food is an important ingredient in their lives and their passion for it has naturally assimilated into mine.
It is universally known, at least within the family, that my Pop-pop makes the best spaghetti ever. His pot roast is a close second. My sister, Christine, and I often ponder what can make such a simple dish so savory. He makes his own tomato sauce and simmers it for “tree” (three) hours. I am fortunate to have gotten his tomato sauce, the meatballs and the stuffed cabbage recipes but I cannot duplicate the depths of flavor and richness of his dishes. Christine and I have narrowed it down to one fact: his fifty plus year old pots and pans must add the secret seasoning.
Since I can’t compete with that, I have tweaked and tried other methods of cooking those recipes. Here is my stuffed cabbage recipe. Mind you, this is not Pop-pop’s original recipe as his recipes are top secret. I haven’t even shared them with my own family members, however this recipe is mustard. Ahem, I mean mustered. I made some and brought it over to Pop’s house and heard how delicious it was through other family members. That is the ultimate compliment.
Crock Pot Stuffed Cabbage 
1 head of cabbage
1 ½ lbs meatloaf mix
¾ cup brown rice
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste
24oz V8 vegetable juice
1 can diced tomatoes
½ stick of butter
1 large package of sauerkraut
Boil water in large pot. Core the cabbage and put in the boiling water for 20 minutes or until leaves are pliable. While the cabbage is cooking, in a large bowl, combine meatloaf mix, rice, oregano, garlic, salt & pepper and mix well.
Carefully peel the cabbage leaves off the head and let cool for a minute. Do five leaves at a time so the tougher inner leaves cook a little longer. With a regular tablespoon, scoop the meat mixture and put at the bottom of the cabbage leaf. Fold the bottom up, then each side, then fold over the remaining flap. This should make a nice packet. Continue this process until there is no meat left.
Take a little of the sauerkraut and spread just enough to barely cover the bottom of the crockpot. Place the cabbage packets on top. Cover the packets with sauerkraut and some of the diced tomatoes. Place 3 or 4 pats of butter on top of that layer. Continue the layering process. When finished, pour in the vegetable juice. Cook on low for 10 hours or high for 6 hours.
Ever since I was a young girl, I wanted to be someone who made a positive difference in the world. I was eight years old when I declared I wanted to be a missionary nurse. The next year I wanted to be an executive secretary like my aunt who had a top floor office with a great view overlooking a never-ending green lawn. Then after my Dad gave me a tour of the Bell Labs facility in Murray Hill, NJ where he worked; I felt I should be an engineer or computer technologist.
After I graduated high school, I felt disconnected from those dreams. I worked minimum wage jobs and eventually landed a job as a receptionist. From there, I worked up the corporate ladder to the Information Technology department. It was an intoxicating feeling helping others who had no idea how to help themselves or their computers. Most days I enjoyed going to work because most of the employees were great people. Those that weren't so great made for some interesting days of which stories maybe in future posts. I even met the love of my life and now husband there.
When life seems to be going really good, I should know to prepare myself for the downhill roller co
aster ride. After all, what goes up must come down. The rug was pulled out from under our department's feet when our supervisor told us someone had to be laid-off. This idea was inconceivable to us as not only were we the only department in our office whose employees all got along, we were a well-oiled machine at problem solving. Eventually someone was told to go home but God had predestined that day for me to take the lay-off for my co-worker. In so many ways, taking that lay-off was not only a gift for my friend but for me as well.
At home on unemployment, I took the time to consider starting afresh. My good friends at Regional Personnel took care of me and found a permanent full-time job. It should be noted here that the woman who owns Regional was the same person who got me the receptionist job all those years ago. When I went to Regional, I had no idea she owned the business. Kinda ironic in a very cool way, huh? Again, God had a plan that for me was totally unexpected. Three months into the new job I found out I was pregnant. After I announced this to my supervisor, I was let go due to "having to downsize for company financial problems." A bit too coincidental, don’t you think?
After I had my son, Nathaniel, I felt like I had jumped into the deep end of a cold pool. I thought I could never be a mom since I felt I didn't have the nuturing qualities it takes to be a good one. It took me a while before I could find my way back to the surface and then I felt like I was treading to survive. Then my neighbor, Jen, came by with some information about a moms’ group. I read over the pamphlet and was not really interested in joining the group but then I saw a small paragraph about a Bible study group. God has always been a solid compass in my life and I realized He was what was missing in my life. We will be going into our fifth study as of this posting and I have never felt more grounded, peaceful and connected to God.
During these five years of being at home, I have picked up hobbies I had long forgotten, gained new ones and honed my cooking skills. My life has been remade into a somewhat domestic queen which I NEVER planned or dreamed of. This blog is my outlet of this new life. My hope is that someone out there will read what I have learned and experienced in life and will help them in some positive way.
Yarn. It is simply twisted fiber made of natural or synthetic threads. I have even heard of some eccentrics spinning their pet’s fur or their own hair to make yarn. That’s a bit on the fringe – no pun intended! Perhaps working with yarn speaks to something in our genes of those ancient days when all clothing was handmade in order to survive. If you ask any crafter of yarn, they will tell you it is therapeutic, mysteriously addictive and deeply fulfilling to work and finish a project. Also, there is a tremendous amount of pride that makes each project special and precious. I overheard a woman at a fiber artists’ guild telling a story of a scarf she had made and happened to be wearing that evening. The stitches were impeccable as was the exquisite beading work. The scarf was so eye-catching that the receptionist at her dentist office offered to buy it right off her neck. The woman simply replied, “You cannot afford to pay the worth of it.” The receptionist did not understand it was not simply the materials and the time it took to make the scarf but also the love that was poured into making it that made it priceless.
Then one day as I was stewing in my seemingly endless boredom, I was reorganizing books in a bookcase and came across a clear plastic bag full of crochet needles. I bought them years ago at a garage sale when I thought I would renew my desire to create. The needle hooks were miniscule and obviously made to work thread for lace. Excitedly I went to the craft store and purchased a book with several patterns of lacey snowflakes. The patterns were easy and could be made within a short amount of time. It took a few flakes before my hands remembered the required tension and for my brain to recall how to make the stitches but I was off making dozens of snowflakes. As I finished each one, it filled that desire to see something accomplished quickly and filled that need to be creative which helped banish the doldrums of the everyday routine. It was truly an answer to my prayers. I was so grateful to God that I gave all the proceeds of the snowflake sales to my church’s Christmas collection – just paying it forward.
