stessily

I am interested in many topics, including art, interesting books, history, music, nature, quilting, spirituality, and taxes.

I've been sewing since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I never knew my maternal grandmother but apparently I inherited my love of sewing and my green thumb from her. I think of that amazing lady every time I sew or commune with my plants.

Grandmother Laura was an incredibly talented designer and seamstress. I have nowhere near her talent but I was so indescribably touched when my mother told me that her mother would have been impressed with my work.

As for plants, I love to specialize in what I call Lazarus plants. They are plants that are dying or dead. I take cuttings and for whatever reasons they flourish.

Again a connection with Grandmother Laura showed up when I learned that my two favorite plants, African violets and red geraniums, were her two favorite plants.

I have loved writing also since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.

I wrote my first and only novel at the young age of 12. My entire family eagerly awaited each chapter. It was over 200 pages. I do not know what happened to it. I think of it from time to time and wish that I could recall it.

I wrote my first hub on Psalm 23 because spirituality is important to me. Psalm 23 was the first psalm that I learned in childhood so it has journeyed with me throughout my life, sometimes unbeknownst to me.

I am concentrating on writing for these first few weeks. And then I am looking forward to reading other hubbers.

In the meantime I am so appreciative of the few hubbers who have discovered my hubs and left positive comments.

I also appreciate my first two followers: 

http://lefseriver.hubpages.com/

http://parrster.hubpages.com/

I really am looking forward to reading your hubs and learning from you.

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June 19, 2010:  I took a month's break from Hubpages because one of my closest friends was hospitalized in serious condition. He's steadily recovering now so I'm able to return at least partially to Hubpages.

I appreciate all the visitors in my absence, and I especially appreciate my additional followers as well as my first two followers, Lefse River and parrster:

http://lefseriver.hubpages.com/

http://parrster.hubpages.com/

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December 28, 2011:  A computer crash has totaled my cherished, long-lived computer. For an indefinite period my computer contact will be irregular. I hope that changes soon.

In the meantime, I am grateful for all of my followers; each of them has unique gifts which enlighten life and lift hearts and minds through that craft which enchants in its inimitable way, the magic of written words.

During the holidays I favor food over gift-giving, so I am attuned to culinary artistry. Three of my favorite culinary shamans are

Derdriu

http://derdriu.hubpages.com/

Raso

http://raso.hubpages.com/

and

tonymead60

http://tonymead60.hubpages.com/

With a special penchant for Italian cuisine, DERDRIU shares healthy, delicious recipes. Two of my favourites are "Italian Bread with Plum Tomatoes: The Joy of Bruschetta"  http://derdriu.hubpages.com/hub/Italian-bread-with-plum-tomatoes 

and "Garden Minestrone: Soothing Italian Potpourri in a Soup Pot" http://derdriu.hubpages.com/hub/Garden-Minestrone

I've been an afficionado of minestrone for as far back as I can recall, and bruschetta keeps me honest: it keeps me from upending the bowl in order to consume the last drops.

RASO has transferred his amazing, delectable lasagna recipes to three other sites:

http://lasagnarecipes.org.uk/

http://rasorecipes.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lasagna-recipes/268523229857806

TONY continues to regale all with his culinary adventures, especially those amusing, scrumptious escapades with his Tuscan chum, Fabio. Tony honored me recently by naming a creation in my honor, generously acknowledging a suggestion which I had made about Calvados and main dishes:  Pollo Nella Grappa Per Stessily.

http://tonymead60.hubpages.com/hub/Chicken-Cacciatore-or-Pollo-Nella-Grappa-Per-Stessily

It is an incredible recipe which displays Tony's talent for following through from dream to reality.

*****

One of my joys throughout life has been drawing, and I am especially grateful to my talented sister, Derdriu, for encouraging me to revisit the enchanted geometry of straight and curving lines by illustrating a coloring book on nature for her.

http://derdriu.hubpages.com/

I designed Deedee's new avatar and surprised her by including her amazingly exceptional, extraordinarily loving and wise kittycat, Augusta Sunshine, known affectionately as Gusty or Punkin or Gusty Four Paws or Gustifera.

The vistas of imagination which have opened for me by reviving this passion from bygone days have enriched my life. Art

"has given my heart a change of mood and saved some part of a day I had rued" (Robert Frost, "Dust of Snow").

That is why I write and why I draw: for the change of mood, for saving each day.