Saturday, December 7, 2019

DAY 7 -- INA AND SADIE'S EXCELLENT FARMHOUSE CHRISTMAS


It was Saturday at last and the best kind of Saturday, too -- a December Saturday. Sadie awoke to the tantalizing smell of bacon and coffee wafting up the stairs. Her Aunt Shirley was coming today. Sadie hopped out of bed, gathered her “Saturday” clothes, and ran downstairs to dress beside the wood range.

Sadie’s Aunt Shirley, Ina’s youngest child, worked in town and came home “to the hill” on weekends. Aunt Shirley was loads of fun. Ina was looking forward to Shirley’s weekend visit, too, knowing that she would keep Sadie busy.

Sadie had just finished setting the table for five when they heard the car in the yard. Aunt Shirley’s fiancĂ©, Henry, had driven her from town. The five of them sat down to breakfast, and after they had eaten, Uncle Henry left to visit his own family. He would return tomorrow evening to carry Aunt Shirley back to town.

Sadie couldn’t wait to show Aunt Shirley her Christmas cookbook, so when the dishes were finished, they sat down at the table to look it over. Shirley was so intrigued with some of the ideas that she left Sadie to draw pictures while she went off to confer with Ina.

It was settled then. Next Saturday they would invite Aunt Bertha to tea. Sadie and Shirley excitedly planned a simple menu, and after lunch, they walked the half mile to Aunt Bertha’s house to invite her. It had begun to snow, and Sadie felt so happy.

Ina was glad to see them go. She could use a couple of hours of peace and quiet. And while they were gone she finished the nightgown that Sadie badly needed as hers were outgrown.

Aunt Bertha was delighted to be invited to tea. And since they found Mrs. Boehm was also visiting at Bertha’s, they invited her, too. Both ladies said they would bake a holiday treat for the occasion. Oh, their tea party was shaping up so nicely!

As we know, decorating the house happened at Christmastime, not before, but Aunt Shirley said they should have some sort of nice centerpiece for the tea, and she had an idea. They gathered pine cones from the woodshed and then added just a little glitter to the tips, using Aunt Shirley’s clear nail polish as glue. Aunt Shirley said that next Saturday they would gather some sprigs of fir or pine to complete their decoration.

In the evening, the family gathered in the dining room to listen to the radio. Then it was bedtime – and bedtime was bedtime for all. KW

[Sadie's new nightgown is from a pattern found in the 2019 edition of "Too Cute Doll Designs" magazine, Margie Swoyer, editor (here).]

6 comments:

Chris said...

Hmm, I've never heard of this magazine. Did you buy it locally? The nightgown is very cute and looks just right.

Kathy said...

I don't remember where I first saw the ads for this magazine. Initially I ordered a few back issues, then I subscribed. I have added a link to the editor's Etsy page in my note at the bottom of the post, and that's the only way I know to subscribe.

It's a quarterly magazine at $28/year. Each issue contains patterns for at least three outfits and an interview with another doll clothes designer. The patterns in the magazine are designed by the editor, Margie Swoyer. They aren't complicated and the instructions are succinct.

Becky said...

I love the nightgown. It looks so cozy and warm! I love the pattern also!

Kathy said...

Thanks, Becky. You know, So many nightgowns are frilly, and that's lovely, but I wanted to make one rather quickly.

Hallie said...

That girl in the illustration is having a real stare-down with her dog. In my experience, you have to be eating to have a dog so intent at staring.

Kathy said...

Hallie, the caption is small. Did you see it? The little girl is playing Cinderella and the dog and the cat are her ugly stepsisters. It reminded me of when Nobie was a leggy puppy following you around, and you would say, "Come on, little sister."