thanks for the memories

Monday, June 30, 2014

The Simple Woman's Day Book 30 June 2014


Outside my window...it is rainy and dreary.  Looks like I won't have to water the gardens today.  The lack of sun is a good thing to keep me inside and get me back to work.

I am thinking...about the amazing people in this world and how they off-set those who are mean spirited and judgmental.

I am thankful...for the lovely daughter that God has blessed me with.  She is caring and concerned for others and willing to give.

From the kitchen...something will be created for supper I just don't have a clue right now.  I shouldn't be listening to the Food Network at this hour of the day.  It only makes me feel inadequate.

I am hearing...Tyler Florence talking about Chicken Cordon Bleu on the TV, the washer spinning out another load of clean laundry, and the dryer finishing the first load.

One of my favorite things...learning new things and trying things I have never done before.

A few plans for the rest of the week..sewing, sewing, and more sewing.  After being lazy last week with an infected thumb I need to make up for lost time.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...
Yesterday my grandson met a friend's dog for the first time.  Looks like they are going to become good friends.

Monday, June 23, 2014

The Simple Woman's Day Book 23 June 2014


Outside my window...the sun is trying its best to shine through the clouds that fill the sky. It is still somewhat muggy out but the lack of bright sunlight keeps the temperature from soaring too high.  I think this might be a good day to spend out on the deck reading a book.

I am thinking...thinking, always thinking.  I wake up in the middle of the night and I am thinking.  I think my mind has ADHD.

I am thankful for...kindness.  Kind people who take care of you, kind people who reassure you, and most of all kind people who pray.

From the kitchen...there will be leftovers and other sundries retrieved from the freezer for just such occasions.

I am hearing...traffic on the highway, my dog rustling through the leaves in search of I don't know what, and the light breeze that has kicked up playing its morning music in the leaves of the trees.

One of my favorite things...the vagaries of the weather.  The past week has been overall hot and muggy with a side of oppressive.  But every once in awhile God throws in a breeze, rain shower or cool morning just to let us know that he's still in control.

A few plans for the rest of the week...it seems that I have gotten myself into a little pickle so this week will be spent, hopefully, resolving that issue.

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



Monday, June 16, 2014

The Simple Woman's Day Book 16 June 2014


Outside my window...the sun is up signaling the start of a new day and an even newer week. I have no idea what the weather people are calling for today and I really do not care.  It is Monday and that carries with it the knowledge that certain activities are going to be carried out no matter what the weather.  

I am thinking...about family and the ways that we love each other.  Yesterday was Father's Day and though the calls and the greetings were not about me or for me how I reveled in the respect and love that my children showed to their father.  The day may have been all about him but I think that I got the greatest gift of all.  It was my pleasure to witness the interaction between this loving husband and father and his children.

I am thankful for...cool breezes, shade trees, and the scents that mean summer outdoors

From the kitchen...I will be serving up toasted cheese sandwiches.  My husband rarely makes requests in the culinary department but when he does I do my best to honor those requests.  Today it is toasted cheese and that is what the man will get.

I am hearing...the Cardinals calling to each other, crows cawing in the distance, and the lonely whistle of a train as it speeds along the tracks near here.

One of my favorite things...sitting here on the porch before the world is wide awake.  I can make out the calls of the various birds as they go about their morning business.  The symphony of cars and trucks on the highway outside the development plays a distinctly human counterpoint to the softer sounds of the birds and the sigh of the breeze in the trees.  

A few plans for the rest of the week...more of the same I am afraid.  For those who expect excitement this is not the place to come. I have aprons to sew, dresses to smock, hankies to embroider and the ever present quilting machine to run.  All of that will be accomplished between meal getting, bath giving and laundry doing.  My days are full and though the fullness isn't always of my choosing it is good and I have my husband, my dog and my God as my companions.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...
A very lighthearted moment from Ryan's wedding reception.  There are no words to describe how I love my children and how I admire the men and women that they have become.

Monday, June 9, 2014

It's June


It's June, a month that is both happy and sad, so profoundly sad for me.  If I were to lose all of my mental faculties tomorrow I think that June would still come around and floor me with it's sadness.
Nine years ago today I walked into the room where our dear little Rosemary was napping and found that she had been taken from us and was now napping forever in the arms of The Lord.  Many of the details of that day are a blur to me but the gut wrenching fear, sadness and anger are still as strong and real today as they were that day.  
Tomorrow will be the 21st birthday of our dear little Rebekah, a happy thought to be sure but when it is coupled with the knowledge that Thursday we commemorate the 21st anniversary of her entrance into heaven, some of that happiness dims.

For years June would cripple me.  I could not seem to get away from the fact that I had lost two children in this month.  It was not a choice to be sad, believe me when I say that I was often manic in my efforts to be too busy to think.  The sorrow seemed to be ground into my skin so that my very flesh gave off the odor of it.  Planned activities, gardens to be planted, farm work, you name it I did it all to get away from the dirty ooze of sorrow that worked its way out of my pores.  I just couldn't escape it.
Then God gave a gift so profound there is no describing the healing power of it.  This little girl was born on the very day that I despised in June, the anniversary of her Aunt Rebekah's death.  The sun came out with her birth.  In the years since her smile, sweet voice, and winning ways have begun to work their way into my soul.  There is no way that sorrow can live where Savannah is.  She says "Hi grandma" and the filth of sadness flees from my body and joy invades.  Perspective comes along with her chirpy voice and I see that God didn't take my daughter from me, he took his child home and in her place he loaned me Savannah to teach me his ways.

The Simple Woman's Day Book 9 June 2014

Outside my window...the sun is up and shining brightly.  For a welcome and wonderful change the temperature is only 76 with a relative humidity of 69%!  It almost feels like summer in NY (almost).  

I am thinking...that the person who decided that no wax flooring should have pits and valleys in it should be taken out and shot at dawn!  I am not the worlds greatest housekeeper by any stretch of the imagination but I sure wish that my floor would look clean when I clean it without having to crawl around on my knees with a scrub brush!  On a better note the person who invented the shark steam mop should be knighted and never have to work another day in his life!  My sister-in-law bought me one and it is the ultimate gift for someone like me.  It gets the floor clean and, since it uses steam, practically dry at the same time which is great for this southern climate.  

I am thankful...for loving and thoughtful people such as ReNee' who get me such gifts without being judgmental or nasty about the fact that she is a good homemaker and I stink at it.

From the kitchen...one of my all time favorite warm weather dishes is on tap for tonight!!!!  I went to a farmers market Saturday and procured white onions, peppers, yellow squash and zucchini!!!! We are having sausage, peppers, and onions over rice with a side of summer squash!!!!  I have been saving the last package of our own sausage for just this day.

I am hearing....Don McLean singing in the living room, the dryer running, and the birds singing outside.  

One of my favorite things...days like this when I get up and it is sunny but not muggy.  I really am not much in the way of domestic things but I do try to keep things a little clean and tidy.  By 9 this morning I had two loads of laundry done, the house straightened up and dusted, tomato plants planted, the gardens weeded and watered, mom bathed, fed and out on the porch doing her thing.  Now the floors are done and I feel like I have accomplished something important.  

A few plans for the rest of the week...today's cleaning spree aside, the rest of the week will no doubt see a great deal of neglect since the sewing pile calls to me.  The to do list grows with each day and that not only makes me happy but keeps my mind from stagnating which is something that I fear.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...
MK, lest you fear that your mother has gone over to the dark side, here is my messy little corner of the world still totally intact.  It is currently driving your grandmother crazy since she keeps offering to clean it up for me but it makes me happy.

I just had to include this example of my latest embroidery acquisition.  I plan on changing the color palate since I really don't like the original one but I love the detail.

Monday, June 2, 2014

The Simple Woman's Day Book 2 June 2014

Outside my window...the sun is up!  Today is supposed to be cooler and dryer than it has been....yahoo!!!!!  I think it may be a good day to get out there and do some weeding.

I am thinking...about work and balance.  If I had my way I would sew all day long, that isn't balanced and would lead to the neglect of my charge.  Once I get started I could spend the whole day weeding in the garden and clearing along the fence-line.  That too would lead to neglect of my charge.  So I guess the only solution is to do nothing! There, problem solved.

I am thankful for...blessings that are tiny and yet so huge. The ones that take your breath away.  Like the sight of a deer as it bounds across the road in front of you as you drive along the road, a redbird that flits from tree to feeder and back again, and the lilting "I love you's" of 4 year old's.

From the kitchen...I thought I would surprise the man of the house with lasagna on this cool day.

I am hearing...the strains of Scherazhade coming from the spare room, my dog whining to come inside, and another airplane taking off from the airport.

One of my favorite things...maple leaves, over blown roses, peonies, and fresh crisp lettuce from the garden.

A few plans for the rest of the week...work, work. work!  Finish the wedding gift that I am working on, pleat and begin smocking the flower girl dress for Savannah, quilt quilts, stuff like that.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...
We have driven to the top of this mountain a couple of times now. Doug likes it (I think he identifies with the bald spot) and it is no trouble for mom once we get up there.  It makes my husband happy, the mountain and the vistas that you can see from the top.