Spring at Last

Hello, Dear Friends, and Happy Spring! 

We've waited so long and finally, 

the birds are starting to sing, the flowers are blooming, 

and the earth is coming back to life. 

It's been a busy month for me out in the gardens, 

and catching up on my spring cleaning. 

When those beautiful sunbeams come 

streaming through the windows

you get to really see all those dusty corners

that have been neglected all winter!

But I've caught up with things, for the most part, 

and can now sit down and do a little catch-up

with you all. 

I've completely missed sharing St. Patrick's Day

and almost missed Easter, too! 

But I have an excuse. 

You see, my dear Ramblin' Man just 

celebrated a milestone birthday, 

and his wonderful siblings (younger sister, brother and wife)

came all the way from the east coast to

celebrate with him. 

It was a surprise, planned for months, 

and coordinated by our generous son, Gabe and wife, Erica,  

and executed by all of our children, 

down to the last detail. 

It was a fabulous party, filled with love and laughter, 

with lots of memories and more in the making. 

How we all kept the secret was quite a feat, 

and he notably quipped, "Now I'm wondering 

what else you all have kept from me over the years!"

xx

We'll never tell! 

xx

My dear man has now reached the dignified age of 70, 

and I am not far behind. 

We are both a little bit taken by surprise at how 

quickly this has come upon us. 

Then...1974.

We were high-school sweethearts,

and now here we are, growing old together. 

Just like we planned. 

xx

"Do not complain about growing old. 

It is a privilege denied to many."

- Mark Twain -

" Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet."

- Sarah Louise Delaney -

 

There was one notable absence from the happy reunion, though. 

His youngest sister had a serious health scare just two weeks 

before the planned event and was not able to make the trip.

 

The good news is that she is home from the hospital

and recovering, slowly but steadily, which is such a blessing and a huge relief. 

We missed her happy presence, but she was with us in spirit

and in all of our hearts. 

Speaking of hearts...

My daughter, Heather and cousin Shawnee

and I went to a local flea market a few weeks ago

and found some sweet treasures. 

I couldn't resist this one. 

And look at this little sweetie I found on a shopping trip 

with 'the girls' during their visit. 

The perfect thing for chocolate eggs. 

Spring is such a fun time to decorate. 

I've been sewing a slipcover for my settee', and have 

the seat made, so far. I'm working on the back now. 

It hasn't been the easiest thing to figure out, but 

I managed better than I expected. 

The original upholstery was stained and threadbare

and I've been using pillows and throws to cover it up. 

I didn't want to try to replace it, as it is the perfect size 

for that space. Not to mention how expensive furniture is 

now. I used a painter's canvas for the fabric. For $20 

and a little bit of effort, I am able to give it a face-lift. 

If only real face-lifts were that cheap! 

Isn't this a sweet face?

xx

I found the tiny wood box years ago on a shopping trip with my Mom. 

It has a cute bunny scene painted on it. 

She's been gone now 13 years this month. 

I started this blog a month before she passed. 

Never knowing...

She never got to see it. 

You, my dear friends, helped me during that sad time

with your kind friendship. 

Time passes and the ache in my heart has softened 

and been replaced with precious, happy memories.

We had a complicated relationship, and I had a difficult childhood, 

but I found my way to forgiveness, and we created a loving 

relationship despite the past.

It gave me peace. 

Despite the fact that it is officially spring, old man winter 

is still hanging around here and there. 

One minute it is sunny and warm, and the next 

minute the wind starts blowing, the clouds move in

and we are pummeled with hail. 

Ten minutes later, there is a rainbow and the sun comes out once more. 

xx

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."

- Lao Tzu -

These little faces are cheering spring on. 

" A flower blossoms for its own joy."

- Oscar Wilde -

The viburnum and sweet box are blooming with a sweet perfume 

that scents the whole yard. They are wild and rangy 

and overgrown, but stay evergreen all year, and in spring

they make up for their unkempt ways. 

"Where flowers bloom so does hope."

- Lady Bird Johnson -

I found these metal signs at the flea-market, too. 

My little grandson gave me the birdhouse for Christmas. 

Everything is wild here, especially the forsythia. 

The grass will need mowing soon. 

It's been fertilized over the winter by the deer and rabbits! 

I planted these daffodils last fall and am so pleased with the results. 

There are still many more buds. 

I am getting serious about planting things that the deer won't eat.

(They won't eat daffodils) 

 I have researched this and sent away

for seeds to grow some of them.

 

"My garden is my favorite teacher."

- Betsy Canas Garmon -

The three on the right are for my pots on the deck

and the coleus and cactus are houseplants. 

Ramblin' Man cleared the back corner so I could plant a wildflower and herb garden. 

He has to finish fencing it, obviously, before I can seed it.

Deer-proof flowers and herbs, of course!  

I am also insisting he put in a higher fence along the whole back as an extra 

precaution and he has cleared the fence-line so we can have a 

clear view of the forest beyond. 

"The wilderness is a place of an encounter with the creator."

- Lailah Gifty Akita -

I've been practicing my watercolor skills. I think I might frame these 

for next Easter. 

We are going to a brunch and Easter egg hunt at a club  

that my son and wife belong to, with my whole family. 

There's even a petting zoo.

The weather looks agreeable, too! 

xx

I hope that you are enjoying the season, whether spring 

or fall, and finding time to get out in the fresh air and sunshine. 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by, dear friends. 

Life is busy and it means so much to me. 

xx

"The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day

he created spring."

- Bernard Williams -

"Beautiful as a dandelion blossom golden in the green grass,

this life can be."

- Edna St. Vincent Millay -

  

 

February

 Hello, Dear Friends, here we are, already in the short and sweet month of February! 

January was not kind to most of us, but I do hope 

that February is a bit friendlier. 

I've noticed the days are gradually getting longer, 

and there are some tiny signs of spring,

here in the foothills of Mt. Rainier.

My crocus and early daffodils are coming up. 

The wild plum trees are budding.

The robins are coming back.   

Today I heard the 'peeper' frogs singing 

down by the creek below our little mountain. 

That always signals that spring is on the way. 

My Mom, who lived just down the lane

from me for 30 years, 

 would always call me as soon as she 

heard them. We could finally look forward 

to sunshine and flowers, even though we still had 

weeks to go. When I would visit her, she would 

pull out the seed catalogs and show me all of her 

 garden plans. My Mom and Dad loved their gardens.

Every visit included a tour.

I sure do miss them.

  

xx

It's such a bittersweet feeling when I hear the peepers sing.

I've been busy in my sewing room during these cold winter days, 

creating new pillows and curtains 

to brighten things up a bit. 

(The little cats were my Mom's.) 

xx

It's always a process to get started. 

My sewing room ends up being a catch-all, especially during the holidays. 

So, a good clean-out was in order. 

Redecorating after the holidays requires some thought. 

 I have to sort through my fabric to decide 

the color theme and whether I have enough of this fabric or that. 

That usually takes a few days. 

I have cupboards and drawers, and a closet full of large bins of fabric...

all collected over time. 

Then it is a matter of coordinating it all, along with lots of measuring, 

and finally, I get down to work. 

All of that sorting refreshes my mind as to what I have 

in my inventory, so it serves two purposes.

It also helps clear my mind. 

Sorting through life, one seam at a time... 

And, of course, I always have a little companion to keep me company. 

Can you see him? 

Birdy-Boy usually stays on his perch in the window, 

chattering to the wild birds, but occasionally 

he likes to be a bit naughty. 

Here he is, chewing the labels off my yarn stash.

He also likes to pull the pins out of my pincushions

and seams. 

Chattering happily all the while. 

xx

When I decorate, I usually follow my mood at the time. 

Lately I have felt the need to have a calm, quiet refuge.

Natural and light. 

Pillows sewn with linen fabrics.  Embroidery. Woven baskets. 

Pretty paper roses. 

A sweet gift from my daughter-in-law a few years ago. 

xx

I sewed new curtains for my old hutch doors. 

I love the vintage style fabric. 

I hung a quilted wall-hanging I made a few years ago,

over a fruit crate vignette of vintage bottles, on the wall beside the hutch.

Some of these bottles I found at an old home site nearby, years ago. 

There was once a thriving little coal mining town here at the turn of the last century, 

complete with a hotel! 

All gone now, except for a few photos and memories kept in some books at a tiny museum.

I bought the books. 

How could I not? 

They belong to this place. 

xx 

Love birds. 

xx

For Valentine's Day. 

One of my decorated candy boxes and some vintage alphabet blocks. 

A vintage Valentine, too. 

I created the romantic heart by simply wrapping a bent, wire clothes hanger 

with brown floral tape, catching the 2 inch stems of dried roses as I went. 

The roses were from my daughter on my birthday in October.

xx

I added a tiny, rusty heart (a gift from my sis-in-law)

that I hung from sheer, moss green ribbon. 

The beautiful flowers are from the Mr. 

xx

Terra-cotta trinket boxes. 

 

A vintage market find. 

A neutral theme. 

A little surprise inside. 

I made the heart border out of sheet music wrapping paper. 

I just folded a long strip accordion style and cut the hearts, leaving 

a tiny bit on each side uncut, then unfolded it and voila'! 

Cherub napkin rings. 

Sweet cards. 

A favorite cookbook. 

The wooden box on top of the pantry holds emergency candles. 

We've lost our electricity a few times already 

during storms, and it's nice to have them handy. 

We've also lost a few old, spindly trees. 

The Mr. has been busy cutting them up into firewood. 

The forest is always evolving. 

Sometimes he just leaves the logs for the wild things. 

Little eco-systems sprout up around them. 

xx

The white ironstone goes with everything. 

Don't tell anyone, but I keep my candy stash 

in the big bowl on the bottom shelf. 

For some reason, the Mr. hasn't found it yet! 

Or maybe he has, but he knows better than to steal any. Lol!

I do like to surprise him and share, though.  

xx

My daughter gave me the beautiful basket on top of the shelf.

It's perfect for serving plates of appetizers.  

Or pies.

I'm of the opinion that there's never enough pie.   

xx

I sewed the semi-sheer drapes on the glass door out of a large sheet.

Sheets are an inexpensive source of fabric 

when you can find them on discount. 

My daughter bought the pretty woven table runner for me 

when we went to the flea-market last fall. 

I've had this old box for years and thought it would look nice 

with my collection of vintage bottles in the kitchen window.

Something to make me smile while cleaning up the dishes. 

xx 

I'm really feeling Zen with this neutral theme. And I had 

some pleasant afternoons sewing while the snow, rain and wind blew 

outside the window. 

Zen - a state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions

are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort. 

Always well within. 

Speaking of Zen...

Morning light. 

Everchanging views outside my windows. 

xx

Life is everchanging, isn't it, my dear friends? 

Lately I've felt the need to find my inner calm

as the winds of change 

swirl all around me - around all of us. 

I am working on the realization that I have no control 

over anyone or anything, except for my own thoughts, actions 

and responses. 

'Response-ability'.

I've always been a worrier and tried to anticipate 

what lies beyond every corner. 

I guess that came with being a mother. 

But now that I am older and wiser, I realize that 

all the worrying and anxiety has not changed a thing

and is actually very detrimental.  

There's a certain peace that goes along with this realization. 

But also, a determination to take the responsibility

to be a positive force and not add to the negativity.

To go with the flow...

 

xx

 

I saw a great quote recently. 

'Be a fountain, not a drain.'

Love that. 

Although sometimes we need to give love and understanding towards 

those that are drained. I think we are all feeling a bit drained 

these days, so it is important to take some time for a 

little introspection as to what is most important in life.

xx  

"The value of compassion cannot be over-emphasized. 

Anyone can criticize. It takes a true believer

to be compassionate. No greater burden can be borne

by an individual than to know no one cares or understands."

- Arthur H. Stainback, educator and writer -

xx

"So many people are hanging by the thinnest of threads. 

Treat all people well. You could be that thread."

- John Pavlovitz -

xx

I hope you, too, are finding a little Zen these days,  

my dear friends.

Spring is just around the corner. 

One corner we can happily anticipate.  

xx