The Irish Lady At Hermann’s: New Arrivals

Posted on July 12, 2013 by TheIrishLady in Designing

Napping sofa, chalk painted maple frame, newly upholstered with vintage fabrics – just long enough for a tall sleeper, light weight, and small scale for petite spaces. Handmade shell boxes, mid-century lamp, vintage books and a bust all make for delightful accessories. Vintage purses anyone? …

Premiering in the new space is an over sized, deep seating, three piece wicker ensemble with settee, chair and rocker along with many wicker accent pieces. Along the back wall is a 50’s formica top pencil leg iron table with the original leaf and four ladder back chairs from the same era. Harkerware tea set, cocktail implements, picnic basket, fishing lures, art work, botanical and a few chalk paint accent tables round out the space and screams, “Eclectic with color!”

Across the aisle is a completely shabby table with oak pressed back chairs re-done with burlap padded seats. The amazing thing about the pressed back chairs is the carving on the back.

Being Irish, I recognized the face of the Green Man as seen in ancient churches used to represent new birth or spring. I have no idea how the chairs came to be here in Brenham, but it seems they were carved in remembrance of the old ways.

Introducing a new chalk paint color, custom mixed by accident, to achieve a deep rich peacock blue with my new favorite … gold leafing. This desk is solid as a rock with a few dents and dings from age that just adds character. Hmmmm, I could say that about myself…

Many things to see and enjoy. I hope you will join me on this antique journey and stop by The Irish Lady’s booth inside…

Hermann Furniture

213 West Alamo

Brenham, Texas 77833

Monday – Friday

9 to 5:30

Saturday

9 to 5

Sunday

1 to 4

A Blessed House, A Blessed Nation???

Posted on July 3, 2013 by TheIrishLady in Inspiring

Independence Day is a profoundly patriotic day for our family. Our family fought in The Revolutionary War, with no government to supply uniforms, weapons, food or shoes for their feet, and we won on principle and determination. Most of all, we won because we were a godly people soon to be a nation founded on The Word of God. Men like Washington himself prayed. At Mount Vernon, his home still preserved today, you can see a prayer journal that he kept with only a small sample of his personal prayers. President Washington had no shame in praying in public nor did his predecessors such as Lincoln up to the last President Bush. Today, we are so far from the ideals of President Washington. If only…

we heeded Washington’s Prayer:

“Of all dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” from the farewell address

No doubt, there are few today in our self-indulgent and intelligent society who could comprehend the meaning of these two sentences, let alone apply even a portion of the concept of morality. Proof in the decay of our morals is the debate occurring in the special session of the Texas Legislature. The media portray Wendy Davis as a hero to women and little Wendy minions chant, “Hail Satan” to Pro Life supporters singing Amazing Grace and children stand next to Wendy with signs that read, “Leave my mommy’s vagina alone.” Where did these children come from and where are the Al Sharpton’s to cry for the unborn; particularly, unborn black children who have been aborted at a rate of 1,876 per day? The bill does not eliminate abortions, Wendy Davis still retains her Pro-~~Choice~~ Murder, rather the bill would stop abortions after twenty weeks and stop the abortion mills like Gosnell’s of which Texas had their own version of horror. How have we come so far?

In our own homes is where the moral decay or complete lack of principle begins. We send our children to the public indoctrination chambers that teach tolerance for the most evil deeds and intolerance for goodness and light. We sit and watch the garbage of television and pay to do so while watching programs that tout immorality. The number of wholesome and decent shows that depict a family with fathers and mothers in monogamous relationships are completely non-existent. We don’t read God’s Word in our homes, but profess to be Christian, and never pray for this country. We live a lie everyday telling ourselves that Washington is corrupt and there is nothing we can do about it as long as what they do doesn’t affect me or mine. Could we find our way back by heeding this simple House Blessing from long ago (pictured in photo above)?

Order

our Houses

with God’s Word and principles contained in The Bible so that we find :

Contentment

beyond what we watch on television and what our next purchase will be so that we focus on

Hospitality

helping others by serving with no ulterior motive to promote ourselves so that our homes will reflect

Godliness

demonstrated to others so that they will desire to seek God for themselves.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14

The future of Independence Day in four words:

Humble, Pray, Seek, Turn

Bohemian Weddings

Posted on June 13, 2013June 11, 2013 by TheIrishLady in Designing, Sharing

A Bohemian (/b ə ʊ ˈ h iː m ɪ ə n /) is a resident of the former Kingdom of Bohemia, either in a narrow sense as the region of Bohemia proper or in a wider meaning as the whole country, now known as the Czech Republic. The word “Bohemian” was used to denote the Czech people as well as the Czech language before the word “Czech” became prevalent in English. “Bohemian” may also denote “a socially unconventional person, especially one who is involved in the arts.” Wikipedia

On a Saturday, this June, we attended a wedding in El Campo, Texas. It was all out Bohemian and followed the traditions of a long line of Polish and Czech families. With over 1200 people on the guest list and close to 800 expected, we were advised to get to the church an hour early if we wanted to sit down; and, rightly so, I must admit. The service was full of scripture readings to encourage the Bride and Groom to live their lives for God, each other and family first. I was overwhelmed in nostalgia and thought about my own wedding almost a quarter of a century ago to a man of Bohemian descent.

Although we are no longer Catholic, I miss the ceremony and reverence that the sacrament of marriage entails when performed in the Catholic Church. The time frame for the couple to prepare is anywhere from a year to a minimum of six months and followed by a weekend called “Engaged Encounter”. It was tough for us and we almost didn’t make it past that weekend. The counselors reassured us that we would probably be one of the couples who would make it because we were so impacted by what they had to say. Here we stand today, not out of the danger zone, but recognizing that our marriage is not just about us. We were reminded of that immensely as we sat there watching a new generation begin their lives together.

Our marriages are or should be a ministry to others demonstrating sacrifice and commitment which can only come when you stand with God. Our young couple Saturday really seemed to grasp the meaning of marriage in the light of serving God by their commitment to one another. The ceremony was an hour and a half long. Some of the guest were complaining, but I relished it as I sat there and thought this is how it should be and got lost in my own memories of my wedding and how important our marriage is to God.

We attended with a couple who had never been to a Bohemian wedding so we explained that you start with the ceremony at church at around two or three o’clock, and then to a local hall for a reception, dinner and dance. Halls are usually built by organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, Elks, Masonic or Veterans of War and you can bet a close relative is a member of one or all of these . They are dark, sometimes with paneled walls lined with framed photos of their predecessors dating back to the early 1900’s, and you cannot hang anything on the walls. You get real creative and gussy up the place so that your guests will feel festive and the young couple will know how special this day is for all. Not realizing this is a time honored tradition that comes full circle within the community from church, family, friends and those who came as immigrants before them to this country, outsiders may think the hall venue is too informal, plain or even tacky. Knowing that the immigrants who settled the Bohemian communities, fought in wars, married, farmed and built these halls right where they lived so that they could enjoy a sense of community with their neighbors and peers, gives you a sense of how close knit and special it is to pass on these traditions. Plus, the hardwood floors have held up to generations dancing polkas, waltzes and two steps achieving a patina that could never be duplicated without years of wear and tear that only builds character.

Frankly, I am quite surprised at how nostalgic I am about this wedding. We haven’t attended a wedding on my husband’s side of the family for a few years and I guess I missed the point then or saw things differently when I was younger. We were honored to be invited to this wedding and I thought I would share some of the wedding decorations that adorned the hall with you. Most were handmade, including the woodwork, by the Groom’s talented mother, Mary Jean Skow, who paints, builds and organizes to the “T”. I won’t spoil the treasure hunt of telling you all the details; instead, I will let you find them on your own just like a good “I Spy” book. Please bear in mind that there were probably more than eight hundred people floating around so I had to snap these photos fast, and we all know, ‘ Ima not so gooda at the photography’…

AT THE FRONT DOOR

A SMALL SECTION OF THIRTY-TWO FEET OF THE “SWEETS” TABLE

BRIDE’S CAKE

GROOM’S CAKE

GIFT TABLE

NEAR THE POWDER ROOM

THERE WERE LOVELY VIGNETTES THROUGHOUT

ANOTHER VIGNETTE FOR PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

GENERATIONS OF FAMILY WEDDING PHOTOS

FRUIT AND CHEESE – ALL FLORALS WERE FRESH FLOWERS AND GREENERY

HEAD TABLE

PLACE SETTING

THE GRAND MARCH IS WHERE ALL OF THE GUESTS JOIN THE BRIDE AND GROOM IN A SORT OF POLKA SHUFFLE AROUND THE HALL UNTIL FORMING AN ARCH AND THEN A CIRCLE AROUND THE BRIDE AND GROOM FOR THE FIRST DANCE. It’s all very organized and led by an experienced couple that can separate the men from women and come together again to form circles and arches.

MY FAMILY AFTER A TOAST WITH SWEET TEXAS TEA. Or, is it Texas Sweet Tea? By any name, it’s a big deal here and has to be just right to get the full name because otherwise, “it ain’t fit to drink.” (There are many things I could point out about this photo besides sweet tea…who is that girl lurking over my youngest’s shoulder?)

I hope you get some really fabulous wedding ideas. Thank you for allowing me to share our day with you.

The Irish Lady (married to a Bohemian)

Not My Mother’s Meatloaf

Posted on June 10, 2013 by TheIrishLady in Cooking

Meatloaf, Homegrown Tomatoes and G Beans and Broccoli

This is not my mother’s meat loaf which was usually a mushy mess that crumbled on our plates and was somewhere between stewey taco meat and Hamburger Helper without the noodles. It tasted good, but you couldn’t make a meat loaf sandwich with the leftovers. Our friend, Jack, asked if I would share this recipe and so I am because he quipped, “Meatloaf ain’t meatloaf, unless you can put it on bread and make a sandwich the next day!” I concur, and this is a healthier version of the tried and true and sometimes dreaded MEATLOAF…(just sounds wrong…lol).

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Cooking Oil

1 1/2 Cups Chopped Onion

1 Cup Chopped Bell Pepper

2 Pounds Ground Beef, 85% Lean

1 Cup Rolled Oats

2 Eggs, Beaten

1 Can Tomato Sauce, Eight Ounces

2 Teaspoons Salt

1 Teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Ketchup

Preparation:

Saute onion and bell pepper in cooking oil until translucent. Preheat oven to 350 degrees while cooking. In a large bowl mix all ingredients except ketchup and then add cooked onions and peppers, stirring throughout. Spray cooking spray into three loaf pans. Add meatloaf mixture and pat down. Bake for one hour. Drain excess juices. Add ketchup to top of loaves and return to cook in oven for ten minutes.

P.S. This recipe was adapted from my favorite cookbook, Jan Karon’s “Mitford Cookbook & Kitchen Reader”.