thanks for the memories

Monday, April 28, 2014

The Simple Woman's Day Book 28 April 2014


Outside my window...the sun is shining with a vengeance!  The weather people are talking about severe storms later with a chance of hail but right now I cannot imagine that happening.  However, on the off chance that they are correct my wonderful husband took the windows off my cold frame so that they don't get broken.  

I am thinking...about words and the power that they wield.  Words have always been important in my life but never so much as they are now.  My situation and circumstance have made it difficult for me to arrange words in my own way so I have had to rely on the words of others to comfort, inspire, and express for me.

I am thankful for...my sister(in law) ReNee' and my brother Tom.  The few short hours that we had together this weekend and your gift of time off for Doug and I have infinite value to both of us.  We love you and thank you.

From the kitchen...I thought simple would be best so there is quiche on the menu tonight.  I hope to make enough to stash some away in the freezer. 

I am wearing...grey capris and a burgundy tank.  It is already quite warm today and the clock hasn't even turned 9 AM.

I am hoping...to get the three quilts piled on my table and the one on the frame quilted this week.  Time and my mother's behavior will tell but that is my goal.

I am hearing...Mr. Cardinal calling to his mate, the whirring of the fan in the ceiling of the porch, and the voices of our backyard neighbors drifting out the open door of their house.

Around the house...all of my crops have sprouted!  Perhaps I will be able to grow food for my family here as I was able to back in New York. 

One of my favorite things...Early mornings alone to observe and revel in the changes that are happening right outside my door.  All of the trees have little baby leaves on them and have already begun to shade the yard and porch.

A few plans for the rest of the week...get mom to the dr. today and hopefully the dog to the groomer as well.  Work on my quilts so that I can get them shipped out by the end of the week and spend my days slowing down time so that I can be
continually in tuned to all of the gifts of God in my life.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you....

I went shopping for border and binding fabric for the wedding ring quilts and these three are what I came up with.  The picture doesn't do them justice but I really like the way that they bring out the colors in the quilt.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Today's thanks...

Today I am extremely grateful for the feeling that mama's got her mo jo back!  As strange as that may seem to others to me it is a sign that I am back to myself after a long hiatus.  Although I have been able to create all this time, it has been more of a struggle than a pleasure.

 Now the opposite seems to be coming true.  My head is full of colors and textures again and my fingers cannot work fast enough to get all the ideas out.

To all of you who have been a part of this struggle, thanks for the support and the encouragement.  To the Lord of heaven thank you for the grace to endure the dryness and for giving it back to me.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

The start of my one thousand thanks.

 Sitting at the sewing machine today with the songs from my teen years playing in the background and the smell of baking bread sets the scene for many reasons to be thankful.  There are so many memories attached to the music and the scents that fill me today.
 Thankfulness for the time, talent, and resources to express myself through my art.  The incredible blessing that is the man I married who not only encourages me but genuinely appreciates what I do.
 MK, I know you will understand my thanks for the ability to do things the way that only I can do them.  With the nice weather and grandma spending so much time outdoors, I am able to spread out, throw fabric around, and make a complete mess while I create.

Drawers left open, piles of books and quilt blocks, and furniture draped in the colors that I am considering today are other reasons that I am thankful.
Only someone totally immersed in what they are doing could function in such utter chaos.

Monday, April 21, 2014

The Simple Woman's Day Book 21 April 2014


Outside my window...the sun is shining brightly and the birds are singing as if they knew that it is Easter Monday and all the world has been redeemed.

I am thinking...about the virtue of patience.  There are folks who pray for patience and grumble because they persist in their impatience.  Mother Angelica has taught me that when you pray for this particular virtue God does not send it to the petitioner.  Rather he sends occasions that are designed to foster patience.  Welcome to the sum of my days.

I am thankful for...family!  I have family all over this crazy planet who love enough to send their Easter wishes and blessings to me.  I only hope that I have been able to convey back to them my thankfulness for them in my life and my wish for God's blessings on their lives.

From the kitchen...bread needs to be baked today and I think a roasted chicken with oven roasted potatoes and a garden salad are on tonight's menu.

I am wearing...navy capris and a green tee.  

I am hoping...that the time in the next three weeks flies by.  I am counting the hours until we fly to NY and see the grandkiddies and then to WA to witness Ryan and Kathleen's wedding.  

I am hearing...birds singing outside, the washer doing it's Monday morning duty, and an airplane taking off from the airport nearby.  These familiar sounds are the soundtrack of my life.

Around the house...the windows and doors are open to the fresh air, there is abundant bird song to punctuate my thoughts, and a definite feeling of belonging in the air.

One of my favorite things...sharing holidays with family.

A few plans for the rest of the week...there are packages to mail, sewing to be done, and life to be lived.  I won't be bored!

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...



Monday, April 14, 2014

You know your man loves you when...

He takes you to see airplanes

old cars...

even older cars...

trucks..

and street musicians.

When he takes you walking in the park...

to see turtles swimming...

and strange metal sculptures.  

Then you love him right back by looking at rocks with him and laughing together all afternoon.

The Simple Woman's Day Book 14 April 2014


Outside my window...the clouds have moved in and it is fixin' to rain today.  We have been spoiled by the last four or five days with sunshine and warmth.  My gardens are dry and it is definitely time for a bit of divine watering.

I am thinking...of family members and the supreme hurt that they can inflict.  How it breaks my heart that members of the same family seem unwilling to understand and would rather take the path of judgment and hurt.

I am thankful...that God has blessed me with the man I have and all of the lessons we two have learned along the way.  Time is too short and love is too big to let little bumps separate us.

From the kitchen...there will be bread in the making.  My man has to have his PB&J's and homemade bread is the only way to go for him.  

I am wearing...jammies!  Ariel and I are having a slow, lazy morning today and it seems that my mom is in no hurry to get up and get going.

I am hoping...that the next couple of weeks fly by! I am beginning to count the days until I go to NY and see my family there and then to Washington to see my son married!

I am hearing...the dishwasher cleaning and sterilizing the bucket to mom's commode, the birds outside the window calling to each other, and the TV spouting the weather forecast.

Around the house...it is shaping up into an inside kind of day.  That is quite all right for me.  I have plenty that needs to be done and a lot more that I want to do.

One of my favorite things...learning new things.  I think I would be happy for the rest of my life if I could spend a major part of it studying and learning.

A few plans for the rest of the week...this is Holy Week! My favorite week, season, time of the year.  This week will be spent contemplating the passion of Christ.  Doug and I started it out last night with our own viewing of The Passion of the Christ.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...
Doug provided me with a wonderfully interesting and relaxing weekend.  Yesterday afternoon we went to Clemson and walked among the plantings in the Botanical Garden and learned a little SC history in the Geology Museum.

Monday, April 7, 2014

The Simple Woman's Day Book 7 April 2014


Outside my window...it is raining!!!! I think that the building of an ark may be the order of the day! 

I am thinking...of warm days and sunshine!  I took the dog out to do her business and discovered that she is violently opposed to rain! She tiptoed onto the grass right off the driveway, did her thing and ran back into the garage.  Maybe some toilet training might be a good idea.

I am thankful for...a house with no basement, umbrellas, and good books to read.

From the kitchen...all kinds of good things have been in the making this morning.  Since the damp weather makes it difficult for me to sleep I have been up since the wee hours making meatballs, muffins, and biscuits.

I am wearing...jammies, still.  I see no urgency about taking my shower and getting dressed.

I am hoping...that my hubby has a good day today at work and that the rain stops sometime short of flooding!

I am hearing...the dryer tumbling its first load of the week (no clothesline usage today), the rain beating down on the sidewalk out side the door, and my mother scraping the plate to get the last of her breakfast up.

Around the house...it is far too quiet for my liking.  This place could use a few little boys to tumble around and make noise and some little girls to giggle and have their brand of fun.

One of my favorite things...hot coffee, a good book and a cozy shawl crocheted by my daughter.

A few plans for the rest of the week...the usual round of chores along with some quality facetime with my family in NY and Washington.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...

This is the view out my back door.  
I don't know how well you can see this bird but he and his woman have been coming to the feeder and terrorizing all the other birds.  Their antics crack me up.