The Martha Stewart Gene

Here is what the world has been waiting for.....




Genetic proof that the Martha Stewart gene does indeed, exist.

(Sophie doesn't normally wear spiders and weird things across her forehead, but we were at a pirate themed cook-out hosted by a Martha, so she insisted on going all out).

The signs were all there early....at the age of 5 Sophie insisted on throwing a birthday party for our dog, Muncie. She carefully made mini meatloafs shaped into dog bones. She cut dog bones out of construction paper to decorate with. She made a birthday cake. She had name tags. The whole works.

By the age of 6 Sophie was requesting containers into which she could organize her possessions. This was about the same age she began requesting scrap booking tools. (She only knows of the existence of scrap-booking from her older sisters - I've never done it before).

From an early age whenever I would ask her to set the table, it would be a production of monumental proportions. She LOVES to set the table. BUT, she MUST use the "good" china, cloth napkins, the silver etc. She even goes so far as to make a centerpiece often with candles.


I do NOT possess the Martha Stewart gene, nor does my mother. Nor do 2 of my sisters. The 3rd sister is questionable. She may be a recessive carrier. Only because she buys hair,fur, whatever it is,then she washes it, cards it, spins it, then weaves it into all sorts of beautiful things. Anyone who does that, regardless of the rest of their domestic tendencies, probably has a recessive gene.

So, where did my daughter get this Martha Stewart-ness?

My stepdaughters ALL possess the Martha Stewart gene. I thought it was from their mother, a definite Martha, and her wonderful, elegant, charming, elderly mother, who in her 90's still has the Martha aura about her.

Sophie proves one thing. Prince Charming must be a carrier.

I learned everything (well, just about everything) I know about cooking and cleaning from my step-daughters, particularly A2. My mother taught me to make candy and bake cakes, but I don't remember her entertaining very often. When we were really little she hosted bridge club once or twice a year, but overall, entertaining wasn't something she thrived on.

Marthas THRIVE on entertaining.

Marthas THRIVE on matching clothes for cousins (A1 and A2's little ones)

Here are some cousins in matching jammies





And matching outfits...



They even have matching jammies for big girls as well. Here are the Matching Sisters -- all Marthas.




Sophie and her niece don't match in this picture, but since I'm a non-Martha, I can throw it in just because I think it's a cute picture....



Martha Stewarts would NEVER have magnets and pictures on their refrigerators.




Prince Charming's sister has the Martha gene. She has a beautiful home with lots of white furniture that is always sparkling clean and beautiful despite several large dogs....



Having your very own house for cats is definitely Martha.... (can "Martha" be used as an adjective? I think it can....)






Fortunately (or unfortunately), my sons do not appear to have an ounce of Martha in them. Recently, when asked to set the table, the oldest one set it like this.....



The main problem is that there are only 6 of us....how many bowls do you see? And yes, he can count. Actually, he does quite well in math.

Being a non-Martha, I am totally fascinated by this Martha tendency in my daughter and step-daughters. They think of things I would NEVER think of....like sending out V-day cards....



I actually printed some of these up this year to send to family. Do you think the Martha tendancies might be contagious?