Update on My Magic Ball Afghan

This magic ball afghan is my relaxation.  I work on it in the evenings while dh watches television.  I think this afghan will fit a queen-size bed when it is finished or an over-sized double/full size bed.  I love how these look and I like the idea that I can use up remnants of yarn left over from other projects.  Roughly, I have crocheted it to 52".  I'm not sure how big I'm going to make it until I get it a tad bit bigger and lay it on the bed I'm making it for.  I'm thinking about using it for a regular blanket.  What do you think??? Do people use afghans for blankets?  The stitches in this one are close so there aren't any gaping holes to let the cold air in.  My chis, Opi and Nellie Belle love when I work on this and Opi is curled up next to me and Nellie B. is on my lap.  I've rambled on here long enough.  Thanks for visiting...
Click on the cute doggie button below to see links to other crafty people's works-in-progress.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Here is a vintage pattern for the

CROCHETED SONTAG:SHAWL PATTERN .

 It is a little bit different from most shawl patterns that I've seen because it has "ties" to help keep it on.  The site that it comes from is for Civil War re-enactors and has a variety of sewing patterns too. Hope you enjoy... 

Slavery Video: The History of Slavery in America

I've been a bit neglectful of posting topics of historical events in my blog.  Today, in honor of African American History Month, I am posting this 3 part video The History of Slavery in America.  You may turn off the music player by scrolling down the right column until you get to the player and then clicking on the mute button.  May we learn from the mistakes in our history...

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's link to a free pattern is for a cuddly costume for your k9 fur baby. It can be worn in cooler weather just like any other dog sweater imho. It is from crochet kitten.    Here's the pattern.  Enjoy y'all!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Sending all of you warm wishes and affection on Valentine's Day... Here's a sweet video for your listening enjoyment. You may want to go to the column on your right hand side and scroll down to the music player and mute it before playing this video. Happy Valentine's Day!

Need Crochet Motivation...

I  need to get motivated and finish the 2nd doily I'm making for my uncle's new place in Florida.  I'm not too keen on crocheting with thread.  In the meantime, I am working on a "brainless" project--a magic ball afghan.  For this, you just wind up all your scraps of similar yarns, in this case worsted weight acrylic, and crochet a simple pattern using a strand of the magic ball yarn and one other color, I'm using black.  It is so relaxing to just crochet back and forth. I'm doing the following row sequence:  single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, half-double crochet, and single crochet.  I'm repeating this sequence until I get to the desired size or run out of magic balls and have to put the project on hold until I have enough scrap yarn to make additional magic balls.  I'm using a J-hook to have a tighter crochet and hopefully warmer ghan. 

Until later, stay warm everyone!

Cuppa Coffee Anyone?

I love my patio and my front porch.  Frequently we have our coffee out there.  When I lived up north, not too many people used their front porches except as means of egress.  Now that we live a little further south in Kentucky, it is common to see folks sitting on their front porches visiting or just kickin' back.  I was thinking about how it's been months since I had my coffee outside and missing it.  Anyone want a cup???

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's link to a free pattern is for the triple dishcloth.  You can find it here.  It is at Marlo's Crochet Corner.

UFO Scarf Is Now an FO

A scarf I was making had made its way out of favor and was set aside for a couple months.  I pulled it out the other day and finished it up today.  The yarn I used was some novelty yarn in a royal blue color.  I think I got it at Hobby Lobby so it is probably one of their brands.  I used a 2nd strand of Red Heart Super Saver in black.  Those novelty yarns are hard for me to see where to put my hook so I usually use a strand of  "regular" yarn with the novelty yarn.  Anyway, the ufo is now an fo and I still have time to use it this year before the weather warms up!  Here's a couple pictures....

 

Made Another Potholder

I made another potholder last night while dh and I were kickin' back watching some television.  The pattern I used is the same one I used in yesterday's post.  I think 2 good potholders should be enough for now.  Last night I dumped the rest of my store-bought ones in the garbage can.  They were in sad, sad shape.  I currently have 2 projects I'm alternating between, a scarf and another doily for my uncle.  Concentration has been off for more than a week because of this bug I can't seem to shake.  Anyway, thanks for stopping by and visiting...

Potholder and Dishcloth Completed

 

 

Yesterday as dh and I went to the VA Hospital for my appointment, I sat in the waiting area and worked on this potholder.  I finished it last night and had only a small amount of one of my colors to make this dishcloth that I finished this morning.  The reason behind making a potholder is that I was looking at my potholders and they are TRASH!  I hate to waste them just because they're not pretty but the ones I have are way beyond the "not pretty anymore" stage.  I made this potholder to be functional.  This basic design is the workhorse of potholders.   The pattern is a freebie from Lion Brand Yarns.  It whipped up pretty quick and I'm going to make a couple more and throw my current (store-bought) supply in the trash.  The dishcloth is just one row single crochet and alternating rows that are double crochet, chain one and then skip a space and double crochet again all the way across. A single crochet edge finishes it off. Thanks for visiting...Sharon 

Look-Up #1 Song for Specific Dates Since 1940 and On This Day 05 Feb 1953--"Sweets" Rationing Ends

Are you ever curious as to what the #1 song was on the day you were born, married or other special day?  You can go to this page and look up #1 songs for dates since 1940.  OK, let's look at an event that happened this day in history and see what song the people back then were listening too.  On this day in history, 05 February 1953, Great Britain ends rationing of sweets--candies and confections.  Sugar was still rationed until September of that same year.  You can go here for more information on this event.  Anywho, in the UK, they may have been listening to Perry Como sing Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes. Here's the song for your listening enjoyment.  Note:  To turn off the blog's music player and to more comfortably listen to this song, go to the blog column on your right and scroll down to the music player.  Click on the pause button to turn the player's sound off.

The Ripple Toddler-Sized Afghan is Complete!

This is a picture of the toddler-sized afghan I was working on.  It is finished!  WoooHooooo!  It was very easy to make.  There is a problem with it though and it's not because of me unless you consider the fact that I went "cheap" by using mill ends to make this.  Ok, here's the scoop.  The claret-colored yarn is mill ends that I ordered some time ago from a now defunct company.  Anyway, mill ends also equals "seconds" as far as quality.  In approximately the middle of this little ghan, the claret yarn is much thicker.  I think it will be alright as long as I throw in some baby booties or hat to go with it when I find someone to gift it to.  What do you think?  The yarn is soft and very pettable--crocheters and knitters know what I mean by this lol!  Here are 2 other posts I've made about it #1, #2.  Hope you enjoy.  Hugs...

The January Snow Here at Home

The things we do for our kids.  When we had our "big" snow of 4-6 inches, that was a big deal for our little chihuahuas, Opi and Nellie Belle.  If you think about it, that amount of snow hits them in the middle of their faces!  DH, the good doggie daddy that he is, shoveled an area for them to go outside to do their duty.  Here's a glimpse of  the "rest area." Barney, our "big girl" didn't have any problem with the snow as you can see by all of her foot prints.She loves to frolic in the snow.

DH thought I should put this picture in here so you can see what our pond fish are living under. He made this cover to put over the pond to keep all the leaves and winter debris out of the pond to save beaucoup effort to clean it in the spring.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern

Today's free pattern is for a crocheted baby set and afghan done in the shell stitch.  Enjoy...

Ripple Blankie for Baby/Toddler.. a WIP

Still working on the ripple for a little toddler.  I'm slow, what can I say lol!  The pattern I'm using is a compilation of 2 with the color design my own based on what was in my stash.  The claret yarn is a mills end from Caron.  The thickness of the yarn varies quite a bit from skein to skein.  Oh well, it's still nice, I guess... Hope you enjoy.

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern--Dog Sweater with Stripe

Today's free pattern is for a dog sweater.  I made this one and it was pretty easy.  It was a little big for either of my chihuahuas so I gave it to my brother for his little terrier-mix.  The picture here is my mil's fur baby modeling it.  I thought the rug yarn the pattern called for was a bit stiff but I bet some of the chunky or bulky yarns we have nowadays would be better.

New Link for Crocheted Round Afghan Pattern

Edited for bad link.

As some of you may recall, I have been keeping a list of links for free patterns for round afghans to crochet.  I found another one today in an email from redheart.  Here on this page you will find a pdf of this pattern.  Hope you enjoy,,,

A Cute Video About the Food Chain

Yesterday when I subbed, I collaborated with a science teacher for one of the class periods.  The kids were studying the food chain.  To help them understand it, the science teacher had found this cute video on youtube.  The kids loved it and sang along with it.  I thought it was so cute that I just had to come home and find it for you to see too.  So here goes...

Ripple Baby Afghan/Blanket--A WIP (Work in Progress)

Here's my latest wip.  It is a baby blanket based on a pattern I found at Lion Brand Yarns.  I am making it out of sc instead of dc for a tighter weave.  It looks narrower than I expected.  Originally I was going to give this to a toddler I know but I think after I finish it I'll put it in my "gift" drawer and give it to the next little boy born in the family.  I thought this color scheme, burgundy and white, was more appropriate for a toddler--I'm still of the old-school mind-set and like pastels for newborn babies.  I get rather nostalgic over ripple baby afghans/blankets because that is what I made for my older son before he was born.  I started it when I first got married just to have something to do.  I didn't have the stick-to-it-ness and I finished it about a week before he was born 2 1/2 years later!  I have speeded up some in recent years so I know the one I'm working on now will be finished in a few weeks.  Take care y'all...Hugs...

Monday's Link for Free Crochet Pattern--American Heartland Afghan

I  have decided that on Monday, I will post a link to a free crochet pattern.  So, with no further ado, here's the link for today's pattern, American Heartland Afghan.  Enjoy...

First Ever Crocheted Doily Made by Me

I finished crocheting this doily about a week or so ago.  Tonight, I starched it and ironed it to shape.  The pattern was very easy to make.  The problem I had was "seeing" but it did get a little easier as it progressed.  The pattern is called spiral simplicity doily.  I made it for my uncle who requested doilies for the arms of his couch; one down and one to go!  I'm not sure if I used the correct gauge thread because the label was missing when I bought my stash of crochet thread at a thrift store and I really don't know much about crocheting with thread since this is only my 2nd time to ever crochet with it.  Anyway, if you're looking for a simple, not flowery doily to crochet you  might want to consider this one.  Hope you enjoyed looking.  Hugs....

15 January, 1947, Elizabeth Short's (aka Black Dahlia) Mutilated Body Found

Today I think we'll take a look at an unsolved crime from the 1940s.  

On this day, January 15th, 1947 the mutilated remains of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, who came to be known as the "Black Dahlia" were found in a vacant lot in a residential area of Los Angeles, CA. Short was born on July 29, 1924, at Hyde Park, Massachusetts. She was murdered on January 14, 1947.  Numerous persons were questioned in the murder of Short, but her killer was never found despite investigations by the FBI and local authorities.  This murder has been the subject of numerous movies.

If you're interested in the 2006 movie The Black Dahlia, here's a trailer for it:


More information:
FBI Electronic Reading Room records

13 January 1922 Conference of Cannes Ends

on 13 January1922:  Conference of Cannes concerning German retribution payments ended.  Germany had been having a difficult time paying reparations established by the Treaty of Versailles (related to their actions in World War I).  This conference eased the requirements for repayment of this debt but it was still more than the Germans could realistically afford. Originally, Germany was required to formally admit guilt, relinquish lands, reduce military to only 100,000 and pay monetary reparations.  "The final sum amounted to 132 billion gold marks; the schedule of payments drawn up in 1921 would have burdened the German economy until 1988." (Richard Overy, The Road to War Revised and Updated Edition, (London, Penguin, 1999), 28).  Germany's economy entered crisis mode and after the Conference of Cannes, a more realistic system of payments was instituted.  The system of payments continued to cause hardships to the German economy and individuals and ultimately helped to set the stage to put Hitler in power and the start of World War II.


Here's a newspaper article concerning this conference:


German Delegates Start for Cannes

For more information:
Resolutions adopted by the Supreme Council at Cannes, January, 1922 
Conference of Cannes 

On 11 January 1892 Paul Gauguin Marries in Tahiti

Gauguin, Self Portrait

Paul Gauguin was a struggling Post-Impressionist artist.  On 11 January 1892 he married a 13-year-old Tahitian girl.    You might say this marriage made him a  bigamist because he was still married to his first wife Mette (nee Gad) until his death in 1903 of syphilis.   There is little online information of his marriage to the Tahitian girl.  It is interesting to note that Gauguin became a celebrated artist but in his personal life he tended to enjoy seamier practices and habits than what was considered the norm.

For more information on Gaugin:
Discover France.net article on Gauguin 
Time Magazine article 

Florida Secedes from Union--January 10th, 1861

Sites of Civil War Battles in Florida 

 

On January 10, 1861, delegates to the Florida Convention in Tallahassee voted to secede from the United States of America. By February, Florida and six other southern states had formed a new government, the Confederate States of America. Four other states joined a month later. The Confederate states were South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, and Arkansas. Jefferson Davis, from Mississippi, was elected President and Montgomery, Alabama was selected as the capital, though it was soon moved to Richmond, Virginia.

More information:

Florida's Role in the Civil War 

Civil War Florida 

I Was "Goofing Off"...

I love to find new "toys" to play around with online.  You can make some cute things at this site.  Counldn't resist making this and posting it.  Of course, my "kids" are grownup and on their own so maybe I should have tinkered around with this application and made them adults.  Guess that's for another playtime.  Take care everyone and have a blessed day.  Hugs...

We Had a Snow Day Today

Here in Hardin County, Kentucky schools shut down whenever it snows.  I'm not kidding you.  We had 3 - 4 inches predicted today and before the first flake floated out of the sky schools were canceled.  Being originally from the great northern state of Illinois, I could use the story that my dad always told me about walking to school as a kid in the winter, uphill both ways for a couple miles with knee-deep snow!  I won't tell you that but I will tell you that it wasn't uncommon to have 6 inches or more on the ROADS and still get on the school bus.  I love snow...the looks of it but ONLY on Christmas day; the cold temperatures I can do without. Here are a couple looks at today's snow that did not reach the top of my fat feet...

The spruce tree in the front yard

 

The back yard

Barney thinking:   "Why don't they make indoor toilets for dogs?"

 

Leaning Tower of Pisa Closes to Public 07 January 1990

On this day, 07 January 1990, The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to the public. The accelerated rate of "leaning" raised fears for the safety of its visitors.  The medieval tower took over 200 years to build.  The tower reopened in 2001 after stabalization but there were additional stabilization problems.

It is believed that Galileo did an experiment on the tower and discovered gravity.  Here is a short NASA video that demonstrates this experiment.

Why do I find this interesting?  Despite the problems with this building, look at how long it has stood-- Europeans hadn't found their way to the Americas yet!  Think about how many buildings in the New World have NOT stood the test of time and you will realize that the Italian craftsman really did quality work.




For more information:
BBC
Tour Italy Now article

Here's a Link for a Round Lapghan

Just a quick note here---

I love round afghans/lapghans/baby blankets and have been trying to keep a list of free crochet patterns for them available on the Internet.  Here's a link for another pattern.

At Last, Crochet a Striped Blanket or Afghan Without Loose Yarn Ends!

Do you sometimes resist crocheting items made out of more than one color because of all the loose ends that need to be woven in? I do. I found this video on youtube that shows an excellent way to crochet a striped blanket without all the pesky loose ends. What's even better, I think it looks like it has an edge on it without the extra work of working one! Check this out. It is by mikeyssmail. Hugs...

A Look Back at New Years Eve 1957

I was trying to think about what to post for my New Years Eve blog entry. Hmmm, I thought maybe I can check out youtube or google and see what I can find. Lo and behold, I found a video of the Times Square celebration in 1957 with Guy Lombardo. I was (choke, gasp, sputter) born in '57 so it is quite possible that my mom and dad were sitting on the couch watching this and feeding me my bottle at the same time! I want to wish everyone a happy 2010 and pray that our country, nay the world becomes a better place for us all. Anyway, here for your enjoyment is the video. Hugs...

Crochet Accomplishments in 2009

Gee whiz, I really thought I had crocheted more this year than I actually did.  I keep track of my accomplishments in my signature block at crochetville.org .  I know I won't finish any projects before the new year starts so I decided to post my list today.  Anyway, here they are:

Finished 2009: dishcloth (asst) 19, hotpad/potholder 3, hexagon afghan 1, granny sq. 56, scarf 3, kk hat, slippers (19 pr), rr afghan 3, baby blnkt 1, lapghan 1, shawl, mat for dogs.


My latest WIP (work in progress) is a doily.  I've never made one before and am only undertaking it at the request of my uncle who recently moved into his own geo-bachelor (geographical bachelor) place for the winters.  I chose a relatively simple pattern that doesn't have a lacy flowery look to it.  You can see it here .  I'm not sure if I'm using the correct size thread since I've never used thread before; just had the thread in my stash from a thrift store find.  In case I don't get back here in the next day or 2, I'd like to wish all of you a happy New Year!  Hugs...Sharon

Barney Finally Gets a New Bed

Our little chis--Opi and Nellie Belle have 3 beds between the 2 of them not to mention all sorts of little blankies/mats/rugs that I have crocheted for them to snooze on. For Christmas, Santa brought Barney her own big girl bed. Opi staked a claim to it right off the bat. Today, for the 1st time, Barney was able to take a nap in her own big girl bed.  Hey, you can check out my chis blog if you want to.  Hope you enjoy. Hugs....

Barney Napping in New "Big Girl" Bed

 

Opi, the Bed Thief!

 

Hmmm, Maybe Opi Was Giving Paybacks!

A Look at Our Christmas 2009

My brother,his fiancee and one of my nephews were able to visit us at our home in Kentucky from their home in Arkansas. They brought their little fur babies too. Our fur babies had a great time with them. Here are some high-lights of their visit with us. I hope you enjoy. Of course, you won't see me because as usual, I am the photographer lol. You may turn off the blog's music player by scrolling down the column on your right side and clicking on the parallel lines on the player. Hugs to all...

Christmas Slippers

Hello Everyone! Here are the slippers that I made for Christmas presents this year. Of course, they're from the same pattern I almost always use. On a few pair, I was afraid I might not have enough yarn so I did away with the cuff.  The only picture at the top of the post is one I somehow missed when I made the slide show. There is some music with the slide show so you may want to go to the column on your right hand side and scroll down to the music player and click on the parallel lines before starting the slide show. Anyway, here's a slide show of the slippers:

Mouse Christmas Cartoon for Your Enjoyment

Here's a cute Christmas cartoon for you and your young'uns to enjoy this holiday season. To turn the blogs music off and hear this without music clashing with it go to the column on your right and scroll down to the music player and click on the parallel lines. Happy Holidays and I hope you enjoy the cartoon. Hugs....

A Christmas Story for You: "Little Gretchen and the Wooden Shoe"

The following is a special Christmas story for your enjoyment. It can be found at this page.
This story is part of the collection of free e-books available at Project Gutenberg and is free of United States copyright restrictions. I hope you enjoy. Hugs to all....

LITTLE GRETCHEN AND THE WOODEN SHOE

By Elizabeth Harrison

Once upon a time, a long time ago, far away across the great ocean, in a country called Germany, there could be seen a small log hut on the edge of a great forest, whose fir trees extended for miles and miles to the north. This little house, made of heavy hewn logs, had but one room in it. A rough pine door gave entrance to this room, and a small square window admitted the light. At the back of the house was built an old-fashioned stone chimney, out of which in winter curled a thin, blue smoke, showing that there was not very much fire within.
Small as the house was, it was large enough for two people who lived in it. I want to tell you a story today about these two people. One was an old gray-haired woman, so old that the little children of the village, nearly half a mile away, often wondered whether she had come into the world with the huge mountains and the giant fir trees, which stood like giants back of her small hut. Her face was wrinkled all over with deep lines, which, if the children could only have read aright, would have told them of many years of cheerful, happy, self-sacrifice; of loving, anxious, watching beside sick-beds; of quiet endurance of pain, of many a day of hunger and cold, and of a thousand deeds of unselfish love for other people; but, of course, they could not read this strange handwriting. They only knew that she was old and wrinkled, and that she stooped as she walked. None of them seemed to fear her, for her smile was always cheerful, and she had a kindly word for each of them if they chanced to meet her on her way to and from the village. With this old, old woman lived a very little girl. So bright and happy was she that the travellers who passed by the lonesome little house on the edge of the forest often thought of a sunbeam as they saw her. These two people were known in the village as Granny Goodyear and Little Gretchen.
The winter had come and the frost had snapped off many of the smaller branches of the pine trees in the forest. Gretchen and her granny were up by daybreak each morning. After their simple breakfast of oatmeal, Gretchen would run to the little closet and fetch Granny's old woolen shawl, which seemed almost as old as Granny herself. Gretchen always claimed the right to put the shawl over Granny's head, even though she had to climb onto the wooden bench to do it. After carefully pinning it under Granny's chin, she gave her a good-bye kiss, and Granny started out for her morning's work in the forest. This work was nothing more nor less than the gathering up of the twigs and branches which the autumn winds and winter frosts had thrown upon the ground. These were carefully gathered into a large bundle which Granny tied together with a strong linen band. She then managed to lift the bundle to her shoulder and trudged off to the village with it. Here she sold the fagots for kindling wood to the people of the village. Sometimes she would get only a few pence each day, and sometimes a dozen or more, but on this money little Gretchen and she managed to live; they had their home, and the forest kindly furnished the wood for the fire which kept them warm in winter.
In the summer time Granny had a little garden at the back of the house, where she raised, with little Gretchen's help, a few potatoes and turnips and onions. These she carefully stored away for winter use. To this meagre supply, the pennies, gained by selling the twigs from the forest, added the oatmeal for Gretchen and a little black coffee for Granny. Meat was a thing they never thought of having. It cost too much money. Still, Granny and Gretchen were very happy, because they loved each other dearly. Sometimes Gretchen would be left alone all day long in the hut, because Granny would have some work to do in the village after selling her bundle of sticks and twigs. It was during these long days that little Gretchen had taught herself to sing the song which the wind sang to the pine branches. In the summer time she learned the chirp and twitter of the birds, until her voice might almost be mistaken for a bird's voice, she learned to dance as the swaying shadows did, and even to talk to the stars which shone through the little square window when Granny came home late or too tired to talk.
Sometimes, when the weather was fine, or her Granny had an extra bundle of knitted stockings to take to the village, she would let little Gretchen go along with her. It chanced that one of these trips to the town came just the week before Christmas, and Gretchen's eyes were delighted by the sight of the lovely Christmas trees which stood in the window of the village store. It seemed to her that she would never tire of looking at the knit dolls, the woolly lambs, the little wooden shops with their queer, painted men and women in them, and all the other fine things. She had never owned a plaything in her whole life; therefore, toys which you and I would not think much of seemed to her very beautiful.
That night, after their supper of baked potatoes was over, and little Gretchen had cleared away the dishes and swept up the hearth, because Granny dear was so tired, she brought her own little wooden stool and placed it very near Granny's feet and sat down upon it, folding her hands on her lap. Granny knew that this meant that she wanted to be told about something, so she smilingly laid away the large Bible which she had been reading, and took up her knitting, which was as much as to say: "Well, Gretchen, dear, Granny is ready to listen."
"Granny," said Gretchen slowly, "It's almost Christmas time, isn't it?"
"Yes, dearie," said Granny, "only five days more now," and then she sighed, but little Gretchen was so happy that she did not notice Granny's sigh.
"What do you think, Granny, I'll get this Christmas?" said she, looking up eagerly into Granny's face.
"Ah, child, child," said Granny, shaking her head, "you'll have no Christmas this year. We are too poor for that."
"Oh, but Granny," interrupted little Gretchen, "think of all the beautiful toys we saw in the village today. Surely Santa Claus has sent enough for every little child."
"Ah, dearie, those toys are for people who can pay for them, and we have no money to spend for Christmas toys."
"Well, Granny," said Gretchen, "perhaps some of the little children who live in the great house on the hill at the other end of the village, will be willing to share some of their toys with me. They will be glad to give some to a little girl who has none."
"Dear child, dear child," said Granny, leaning forward and stroking the soft, shiny hair of the little girl, "your heart is full of love. You would be glad to bring a Christmas to every child; but their heads are so full of what they are going to get that they forget all about anybody else but themselves." Then she sighed and shook her head.
"Well, Granny," said Gretchen, her bright, happy tone of voice growing a little less joyous, "perhaps the dear Santa Claus will show some of the village children how to make presents that do not cost money, and some of them may surprise me Christmas morning with a present. And, Granny, dear," added she, springing up from her low stool, "can't I gather some of the pine branches and take them to the old sick man who lives in the house by the mill, so that he can have the sweet smell of our forest in his room all Christmas day?"
"Yes, dearie," said Granny, "you may do what you can to make the Christmas bright and happy, but you must not expect any present yourself."
"Oh, but, Granny," said little Gretchen, her face brightening, "you forgot all about the shining Christmas angels, who came down to earth and sang their wonderful song the night the beautiful Christ-Child was born! They are so loving and good that they will not forget any little child. I shall ask my dear stars tonight to tell them of us. You know," she added, with a look of relief, "the stars are so very high that they must know the angels quite well as they come and go with their messages from the loving God."
Granny sighed as she half whispered. "Poor child, poor child!" but Gretchen threw her arm around Granny's neck and gave her a hearty kiss, saying as she did so: "Oh, Granny, Granny, you don't talk to the stars often enough, else you would not be sad at Christmas time." Then she danced all around the room, whirling her little skirts about her to show Granny how the wind had made the snow dance that day. She looked so droll and funny that Granny forgot her cares and worries and laughed with little Gretchen over her new snow dance. The days passed on and the morning before Christmas Eve came. Gretchen having tidied up the little room—for Granny had taught her to be a careful little housewife—was off to the forest, singing a birdlike song, almost as happy and free as the birds themselves. She was very busy that day preparing a surprise for Granny. First, however, she gathered the most beautiful of the fir branches within her reach to take the next morning to the old sick man who lived by the mill.
The day was all too short for the happy little girl. When Granny came trudging wearily home that night, she found the frame of the doorway covered with green pine branches.
"It is to welcome you, Granny! It is to welcome you!" cried Gretchen; "our dear old home wanted to give you a Christmas welcome. Don't you see, the branches of the evergreen make it look as if it were smiling all over, and it is trying to say, 'A happy Christmas to you Granny'."
Granny laughed and kissed the little girl, as they opened the door and went in together. Here was a new surprise for Granny. The four posts of the wooden bed, which stood in one corner of the room, had been trimmed by the busy little fingers, with smaller and more flexible branches of the pine trees. A small bouquet of red mountain ash berries stood at each side of the fireplace, and these, together with the trimmed posts of the bed, gave the plain old room quite a festive look. Gretchen laughed and clapped her hands and danced about until the house seemed full of music to poor, tired Granny, whose heart had been sad as she turned toward their home that night, thinking of the disappointment that must come to loving little Gretchen the next morning.
After supper was over little Gretchen drew her stool up to Granny's side, and laying her soft, little hands on Granny's knee asked to be told once again the story of the coming of the Christ-Child; how the night that he was born the beautiful angels had sung their wonderful song, and how the whole sky had become bright with a strange and glorious light, never seen by the people of earth before. Gretchen had heard the story many, many times before, but she never grew tired of it, and now that Christmas Eve had come again, the happy little child wanted to hear it once more.
When Granny had finished telling it the two sat quiet and silent for a little while thinking it over; then Granny rose and said that it was time for her to go to bed. She slowly took off her heavy wooden shoes, such as are worn in that country, and placed them beside the hearth. Gretchen looked thoughtfully at them for a minute or two, and then she said, "Granny, don't you think that somebody in all this wide world will think of us tonight?"
"Nay, Gretchen, I do not think any one will."
"Well, then, Granny," said Gretchen, "the Christmas angels will, I know; so I am going to take one of your wooden shoes and put it on the windowsill outside, so that they may see it as they pass by. I am sure the stars will tell the Christmas angels where the shoe is."
"Ah, you foolish, foolish child," said Granny, "you are only getting ready for a disappointment. Tomorrow morning there will be nothing whatever in the shoe. I can tell you that now."
But little Gretchen would not listen. She only shook her head and cried out: "Ah, Granny, you do not talk enough to the stars." With this she seized the shoe, and opening the door, hurried out to place it on the window sill. It was very dark without and something soft and cold seemed to gently kiss her hair and face. Gretchen knew by this that it was snowing, and she looked up to the sky, anxious to see if the stars were in sight, but a strong wind was tumbling the dark, heavy snow-clouds about and had shut away all else.
"Never mind," said Gretchen softly to herself, "the stars are up there, even if I can't see them, and the Christmas angels do not mind snow storms."
Just then a rough wind went sweeping by the little girl, whispering something to her which she could not understand, and then it made a sudden rush up to the snow clouds and parted them, so that the deep mysterious sky appeared beyond, and shining down out of the midst of it was Gretchen's favorite star.
"Ah, little star, little star!" said the child, laughing aloud, "I knew you were there, though I could not see you. Will you whisper to the Christmas angels as they come by that little Gretchen wants so very much to have a Christmas gift tomorrow morning, if they have one to spare, and that she has put one of Granny's shoes upon the windowsill for it?"
A moment more and the little girl, standing on tiptoe had reached the windowsill and placed the shoe upon it, and was back again in the house beside Granny and the warm fire.
The two went quietly to bed, and that night as little Gretchen knelt to pray to the Heavenly Father, she thanked him for having sent the Christ-Child into the world to teach all mankind to be loving and unselfish, and in a few minutes she was sleeping, dreaming of the Christmas angels.
The next morning, very early, even before the sun was up, little Gretchen was awakened by the sound of sweet music coming from the village. She listened for a moment and then she knew that the choir boys were singing the Christmas carols in the open air of the village street. She sprang up out of bed and began to dress herself as quickly as possible, singing as she dressed. While Granny was slowly putting on her clothes, little Gretchen having finished dressing herself, unfastened the door and hurried out to see what the Christmas angels had left in the old wooden shoe.
The white snow covered everything—trees, stumps, roads, and pastures—until the whole world looked like fairy land. Gretchen climbed up on a large stone which was beneath the window and carefully lifted down the wooden shoe. The snow tumbled off of it in a shower over the little girl's hands, but she did not heed that; she ran hurriedly back into the house, putting her hand into the toe of the shoe as she ran.
"Oh, Granny, Granny!" she exclaimed; "you did not believe the Christmas angels would think about us, but see, they have, they have! Here is a dear little bird nestled down in the toe of your shoe! Oh, isn't he beautiful?"
Granny came forward and looked at what the child was holding lovingly in her hand. There she saw a tiny chick-a-dee, whose wing was evidently broken by the rough and boisterous winds of the night before, and who had taken shelter in the safe, dry toe of the old wooden shoe. She gently took the little bird out of Gretchen's hands, and skilfully bound his broken wing to his side, so that he need not hurt himself trying to fly with it. Then she showed Gretchen how to make a nice warm nest for the little stranger, close beside the fire and when their breakfast was ready, she let Gretchen feed the little bird with a few moist crumbs.
Later in the day Gretchen carried the fresh, green boughs to the old sick man by the mill, and on her way home stopped to enjoy the Christmas toys of some other children that she knew, never once wishing they were hers. When she reached home she found that the little bird had gone to sleep. Soon, however, he opened his eyes and stretched his head up, saying just as plain as a bird can say:
"Now, my new friends, I want you to give me something more to eat." Gretchen gladly fed him again, and then, holding him in her lap, she softly and gently stroked  his gray feathers until the little creature seemed to lose all fear of her. That evening Granny taught her a Christmas hymn and told her another beautiful Christmas story. Then Gretchen made up a funny little story to tell the birdie. He winked his eyes and turned his head from side to side in such a droll fashion that Gretchen laughed until the tears came.
As Granny and she got ready for bed that night, Gretchen put her arms softly around Granny's neck, and whispered: "What a beautiful Christmas we have had today, Granny. Is there anything more lovely in all the world than Christmas?"
"Nay, child, nay," said Granny, "not to such loving hearts as yours."

 

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