Have a Heart

 Hello, my Dear Friends! 

It's been a long year, hasn't it? 

 Wait, what? It's only February? 

Sigh...

I've been thinking of you. I've missed you.

 

This old-soul empath has been having a hard time 

dealing with this heartless world, lately. 

 To cope, I've been doing a lot of self-care with philosophical, spiritual and inspirational reading,

spending time enjoying nature outside my windows, cooking nourishing meals, 

taking care of my home, spending time with my loved ones, 

and seeking community with other old souls who 

value kindness, compassion, and hope for a better 

world despite the overwhelming obstacles. 

xx

"Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair,

but manifestations of strength and resolution."

- Kahlil Gibran -

I added some bright and cheery color to my kitchen 

to help lift my spirits during these cold winter days.

Hearts and flowers 

in honor of St. Valentine. 

I sewed some pillows for the daybed, 

hung some sweet cherubs and gingham curtains,

and brought out my paper roses.

xx

 "The service we render others is the rent we pay

for our room on earth."

- Wilfred Grenfell, physician and missionary -

Detail of pretty pillows.

Paper roses.
Made with water-color painted coffee filters. 

They've lasted years now. 

A sweet gift from a dear one. 

Hand-made lace hearts. You can't tell, but 

they have glitter along the edges with strings of pearls,

 and look so pretty when the sun shines. 

You can find the instructions on these and other 

sweet crafts under my 'Valentine's Day' Posts. 

" One can pay back the loan of gold, 

but one lies forever in debt to those who are kind."

- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor -

I have a pair of cherubs on either side of the glass door. 

I hung them on the vintage vent screens. 

I've been having fun decorating these for different seasons. 

I gifted the pup-dogs with new beds for Christmas. 

Ricky likes his in front of the fire. 

Keeping cozy. 

xx

" Courtesies of a small and trivial character 

are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful 

and appreciating heart."

- Henry Clay, statesman -

We've been getting snow the last few days. 

It warms up during the day just enough to melt most of it

before the next snowfall. 

Kai loves the snow - true to his breed - American Eskimo. 

Little birdy footprints. 

"Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be,

doing what I can."

- Diana, Princess of Wales -

Pretty little things. x

Crocheted heart. 

Makes me happy. 

xx

Hearts and love on top. 

xx

"The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else

than in the human heart, in the power to reflect, 

in human meekness and human responsibility."

- Vaclaw Havel, poet -

Ready for baking. 

xoxo

My Mom's 'Good and Easy' cookbook that she used as a newlywed

in the 1950's. 

I still use it often. 

My hard-working cottage kitchen. 

I sewed the table-runner years ago. 

Even the plants get a bright update. 

Sweet little visitor in the rain, outside the kitchen window. 

" Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together."

- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe -

Button heart. xx

I made this baking pan magnet board a few years ago. 

It's attached to the side of the refrigerator with magnets. 

I found all the charming paper motifs at the craft store

in the scrap-booking section. 

xx

" A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve."

- Joseph Joubert, moralist -

My new 'Easy-Bake Oven'. 

Mom's Diner is always open. 

xoxo

A sweet reminder...

Hearts in the bath. 

Hearts in the bedroom. 

Hearts and cherubs on the vanity. 

" If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain."

- Emily Dickinson - 

Heart rocks in the window. 

xx

xx

Hearts in the sewing room. 

"To be kind to all, to like many and love a few, 

to be needed and wanted by those we love, 

is certainly the nearest we can come to happiness. 

- Mary Roberts Rinehart, writer -

My heart. 

On the garden bench. 

Wire heart with birds over my birdcage angel. 

"Kindness in words creates confidence. 

Kindness in thinking creates profundity. 

Kindness in giving creates love."

- Lao-Tzu, philosopher -

Basket of hearts. 

Lavender sachet hearts and crochet hot pads. 

xx

"Deeds of kindness are equal in weight 

to all the commandments."

- Talmud -

Morning Light. 

My favorite time of day. 

Morning tea. 

I've had a cold. 

Home-made bread with butter and strawberry jam for breakfast. 

Late afternoon winter scenes 

on my drive home from the market. 

Changing views from my window. 

xx

"Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: 

always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?"

- J.M. Barrie, writer (Peter Pan) 

"The measure of love is compassion.

The measure of compassion is kindness." 

- St. Paul, Apostle

XX

Take care of yourself, Dear Friends, 

and take care of each other. 

Remember - a little kindness goes a long way. 

Someone, somewhere in this world

remembers the act of kindness 

that you once showed to them, 

even if you've already forgotten. 

xoxo