Waiting

 

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are keeping the faith 

as this tumultuous world swirls all around us. 

I have been in a state of suspended animation 

as I wait for spring, 

while war and rumors of war keep me awake at night.

Life is so precious, and we must be grateful for every single day

and the freedoms we so easily take for granted. 

I can't begin to understand mankind's 

inhumanity, but I do know that 

there are much greater forces

that transcend the cruelties of this world. 

Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 13:

"So faith, hope, love remain, 

These three, but the greatest of these is love." 

xx

Speaking of love...

I am very fortunate in that regard at this point in my life. 

xx

My little grandsons created the bookmark with

thumbprint hearts.

I also received a sweet pipe-cleaner bracelet with beads, 

and pink cookies and treats. 

xoxo

Roses, card and chocolates were from my Dearest.  

He also surprised me with this very retro-style

radio/CD player and a whole set of 

60's love songs.

xx

Doowop, Doowop! 

Now I can listen to music while in the kitchen!

Our song, 'My Girl', by The Temptations is 

one of them. 

xx

The dogs look out on a very cold day. 

I am pet sitting for my daughter's dog, 'Lovey'. 

Isn't she cute? She has made herself at home 

and is quite bossy. 

Kai loves her to pieces. 

They sleep together, bark at nothing together, 

and race around chasing each other,  

stealing toys and bones. 

They've been a good distraction to some of the

vicarious trauma I am feeling right now 

due to world events.  

. 

They are pure innocence and love.

Well, maybe not completely innocent :) 

The hutch across from the daybed. 

I found this twiggy wreath when I was at the craft store

the other day. 

The colors in the wreath and this sweet painting 

complement each other. 

My grandson, Ethan's painting of a tree fort

that he wants his grandpa to build. 

xx 

I've been feeling like I need warm, happy colors 

around me these days. 

Little Lovey likes to park herself on the daybed

and mess up the cover :)

You can see the pet door. We had to put a paver brick

in front of it on both sides so she could jump in and out. 

That's the trouble with having short little legs. 

I should know :) I am 5' 3" in heels. 

I found an old advertisement in a magazine 

with a sweet graphic to match the colors in 

my poppy painting. 

Another cute graphic that complements my tea towel collection.

I love the 'Birdie' cereal. 

Grandson, Gavin's drawing of the house 

(floating away, attached to balloons), in the movie, 'Up'. 

He has included the old man and the little dog, too. 

xx

Both of the grandboy's artworks were sweetly mailed to us. 

The hallway off the kitchen, with the library on the right.

(View from the laundry room)

Ramblin' Man has redone the little powder room here. 

 He repainted, (Dutch Boy, 'Peace')

replaced the plumbing fixtures, 

(Toilet and sink)

and hung a glass shelf over the sink.

xx 

Vintage photos of our little town at the end of the hallway. 

My own artwork in the making. 

I am making some progress. 

It's going very slowly, but I work on it 

a little every day. 

It's like painting a 1000-piece jig-saw puzzle! 

I have been using my lighted magnifying lamp that 

I usually use for sewing and embroidery. 

It really helps! 

I've been doing a lot of baking. Old favorites 

like banana bread, apple crisp, and here, oatmeal-raisin cookies. 

I love the graphics on these ingredients. 

Advertising art is a favorite of mine, as you can tell. 

Pretty little helpers. 

Love, laugh and lick the spoon. 

I baked these for the Mr. They are his favorite. 

My baking sheet magnet board that  

I keep on the front of my white refrigerator. 

A little note he left me before leaving for work,

years ago. I keep it with my recipe. 

He sometimes left early in the morning before 

I was awake. I would pack his lunch the night before. 

He worked long hours as a Regional Sales and Distribution Manager

for a local potato chip and salty snacks company. 

He oversaw 9 managers, and nearly 200 distributors 

in seven states after rising up through the ranks,

beginning as a distribution driver. 

He traveled a lot, hence the nickname, 

"Ramblin' Man".

I enjoy having him home finally, now that he is retired. 

He still 'rambles', but now in a different way. 

He loves to 'ramble on' about things. 

And I love to listen. 

xoxo

Broccoli cheese soup and home-made bread. 

I've been making lots of soups lately, too. 

Chicken-rice, minestrone, beef stew. 

Just plain and simple comfort food. 

I've also restarted work on the crochet sweater 

that I started last year. I just have one sleeve and 

the yolk to finish. 

The beautiful canvas and leather bag that 

my son and wife gave me for Mother's Day last year. 

xx

All of these little projects help me to manage my anxiety

when the world seems so out of control. 

I wish that I could talk to my grandparents and great-grandparents

who went through so many difficulties and who survived

World Wars, the Spanish Flu of 1918, The Great Depression. 

My Mother's side were immigrants from Scotland

during WWI, and Ireland during famine. 

My Father's side have been here 

as far back as the founding colonies during

the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. 

Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear their stories? 

We would learn what real courage and resilience was.  

Hopefully, our own grandchildren and great-grandchildren 

will be here to wonder about the same things. 

I've been waking up at the break of dawn the last few days

to put the hummingbird feeders out at first light. 

It's been very cold at night, and I take them in to prevent them from freezing.

 

One benefit to waking up so early is that I see some beautiful sunrises. 

But on this morning, the planet Venus and the crescent moon were there to greet me! 

Another morning I had the crescent moon right over Mt. Rainier at sunrise. 

One morning we had a dusting of snow.  

Old Man Winter is not quite done with us yet. 

So, I wait...

For spring. 

For the pandemic to end. 

For peace.  

"For He will command His angels concerning you to guard

you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone."

-Psalm 91:11-12

"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you

along the way and to bring you to the 

place I have prepared."

-Exodus 23:20

xx

Archangel Michael is historically associated with protecting

humanity from the forces of darkness. 

He carries the sword of divine justice. 

He symbolizes courage, strength and protection. 

I pray that Michael watches over the brave people of Ukraine,

especially the little children, the elderly, the soldiers, 

and all of the victims of the senseless wars in this troubled world. 

xoxo