Love is Tender

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are 

taking time to celebrate the 

tenderness of love 

this Valentine's Day. 

There are so many different ways to express 

this sweet emotion. 

I'm sure you can think of all the people 

(and pets) that you love dearly, 

and all the devoted ways that you show your love.  

I think it is definitely worth celebrating! 

"There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart."

- Jane Austen -

Like many of you, 

I always like to celebrate every holiday by doing a little decorating. 

Valentine's Day is no exception. 

Any excuse to create a change of scenery! 

Especially this time of year when we 

are spending so much of our time indoors. 

This year I am keeping things soft and low-key. 

A little sanctuary 

from the cares of the world. 

It all started with a lovely shopping trip with my daughter, Heather

to Hobby Lobby. This is an all-day endeavor! 

We have a 30-minute drive, which is when we catch up on 

the latest 'goings on' with each other, fueled by a stop 

at our local 'Starbucks'. 

Then when we get there, we peruse every aisle as we consult our shopping lists

(which we may or may not stick to!)

and consider whether this or that will work here or there! 

We have so much fun! 

I had a vision of what I wanted to achieve - an 'old world' style

with an olive and cream colorway. 

I've seen this trend on Pinterest lately. 

I had the cream-colored quilt and some of the pillows, 

but I needed to buy some olive fabric. 

I couldn't find what I wanted and was about to give up

when this lovely, soft corduroy caught my eye. 

I bought two yards and was able to stitch up 4 pillow covers. 

I had some needlework fabric with a soft, loose weave and 

sewed the (lumpy - Lol) heart pillow and fringed the edges.

It's very tender! :) 

I had the knitted throw already. 

These three 'paintings' are all Hobby Lobby offerings. 

I fell in love...

They were perfect for my theme. 

This wonderful painting is the real deal, and very vintage. 

My dear Sis-in-law, Donna sent it out to me

all the way from New England. 

She knows I love pansies. 

It was originally much larger, but had a tear, so I removed it from the frame, 

cut it down and reframed it with one I already had. 

I was able to keep the signature, too. 

The pottery vase was a flea-market find. 

The stone heart was a gift from the Mr. years ago. 

 

A vignette with faux tulips and ivy, and 'love' frame that I found on our shopping trip. 

'Love' is embroidered on black velvet. 

The sweet card is from my sis-in-law, Terry

from years past. 

The pretty dish was a Christmas gift from my grandson, Ethan, 

with cookies. 

xx

A precious correspondence. 

I covered a heart-shaped candy box with scrapbook paper and lace 

a few years ago. 

A sampler that I found at a flea-market. 

I can't imagine anyone giving it away. 

It has a date of 1987. 

Harmonious colors. 

The old hutch faces the daybed. 

Paper hearts. 

Sweet hearts. 

I found this wood riser on our trip, too. 

Perfect for my cookie cutter collection :)

My beautiful friend, Carrie, from the blog, Northwoods Scrapbook 

had a giveaway and I was one of two winners! 

One of the prizes was this beautiful 

bouquet of roses! 

You would never guess that they are not real! 

It is a large, pop-up card! Isn't it amazing? 

She painted this beautiful card to go with it! 

Definitely frame-worthy! 

xx

There were so many lovely things, including 

hand-made earrings, tag, recipe card and stickers.

And a mystery book delightfully wrapped in brown paper, with 

a bookmark and post-it markers and even a highlighter pen

(not pictured).

 And these teeny-tiny books and coffee mug refrigerator magnets! 

Thank you, again, dear Carrie. 

I love it all. 

xx

Check out Carrie's sweet blog, 

which you can find on my side bar

or click on the name of her blog, mentioned above. 

All this decorating made me hungry! 

So, I baked a batch of Oatmeal-Blueberry Streusel muffins.

Baking just so happens to be one of my love languages. 

xx

Something from the heart. 

Of course, I had to sample the goods first! 

Do you like my coasters? 

'Gather and be grateful'

I found these at a Christmas market 

when we went to visit my son and his family 

at his mountain cabin on Thanksgiving weekend. 

Earth and sky.

Sand and sea. 

xx

Here's the muffin recipe:

Oatmeal Blueberry Streusel Muffins 

Serves 12

Bake @ 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes

Use paper liners in pan

Muffin ingredients

1 cup oatmeal 

1- 1/4 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

Combine all dry ingredients together in medium sized bowl and set aside. 

1 cup milk

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 eggs

2 Tbsp maple syrup or honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine wet ingredients in a large mixing bowl. 

Add dry ingredients 1 cup at a time, folding gently until mixed. 

Fold in 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen. 

Do not overmix. 

Streusel Topping

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into pea-sized pieces

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

Mix all together in small bowl. 

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full, then top with 2 Tbsp streusel. 

Bake 20-25 minutes in 400 degree oven until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool 20 minutes. 

Enjoy!!!

I was outside on a recent beautiful day, 

when I spied this little beauty - the first of the season! 

And to my surprise, this little guy backed out and flew away! 

He looks a little skinny, but his pollen sacks were full. 

We've had a few unusually warm and sunny days recently.

I was able to do a bit of garden tidying

and even some pansy potting. 

Hopefully they will be blooming soon. 

 

But now, it is back to rain and cooler temperatures. 

We had a little house guest recently when my son and his family 

went on vacation to Hawaii for a week. 

His name is Ramsey. 

Isn't he cute? 

Kai was equal parts thrilled and jealous to have this little guy

spend time with us :) 

They got along great - chasing each other around and stealing 

each other's bones.

Kai is smiling but doesn't realize Ramsey has his bone in his mouth. Lol! 

xx

 Nap time. 

xx

Some interesting skies over Mt. Rainier recently. 

xx

I hope that you have a lovely Valentine's Day, dear friends. 

It's a good excuse to buy yourself some 

flowers and chocolates. 

And maybe share with someone you love. <3

xx

Oh, and how about our Seattle Seahawks winning the Superbowl? 

So exciting! 

xx

" Love is a friendship set to music."

- Joseph Campbell - 

" Love is like the wind, you can't see it,

but you can feel it."

- Nicholas Sparks - 

'A Walk to Remember'

" A loving heart is the truest wisdom."

- Charles Dickens -

 

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