Category: Random Thoughts

It Just Takes 10 Minutes!

Something that I love is sending and receiving notes and cards in the mail.

In this tech world I suppose posts and texts are easier, but how special is it, that someone takes a few extra special minutes more to send a greeting.

I feel a card or note is like getting a gift.

A gift written and picked out for just me!

Over the years even Christmas cards from folks are few and far between.

I have a box that keeps all the cards and notes I have received over the years.

The old ones from my Momma and Dad, Sister and Brother, are especially heart warming.

This past week I received a Halloween card from a friend and old co-worker.

Matt, always sends me a card at Halloween and Christmas, always.

He writes a bit on the inside of his cards, this year he wrote….

Love his little pumpkin drawings.

The wannabe art teacher in me gives me a love of card making.

I worked on Halloween cards to send out to a few folks I know would love them, especially Matt.

I spent time picking out special images, and this year I even made my own stickers for the envelopes, what fun!

Hope Matt loved the scary image I picked out for his card.

My friend Matt is fun, enjoys life, shares my love of flea markets, and I miss him.

Hope to see him again one day, but for now cards to each other will have to do.

Why don’t you all take an extra 10 minutes this Christmas, especially in these troubled days, and send cards with special greetings on the inside to all you love.

Love to all.

Unexpected Joy!

I’m an old woman.

Old age came on slowly, I hardly noticed.

Now I look in the mirror and I wonder how I got this way.

My life now is pretty well set, this is it!

Saying goodbye to friends and family happens much to often these days.

So very sad.

Of course, there are happy days, those spent with family, my wonderful son, my sister, my nieces, but as we age things become difficult, driving, the fear of falling, and so much more.

Having family is so very precious to me at this time of my life.

Unexpected joy, unexpected miracles are few.

In the past few months God sent us unexpected, unbelievable joy!

A new family member has entered our lives, lost to us for years.

So beautiful, so good, so happy, and so full of life.

Oh my! My heart is smiling, bursting with love.

I pray we meet someday soon, before this life of mine is all used up.

Our family is so grateful to God for this unexpected joy!

On this Sunday, never give up on believing all the things God can do to renew our lives with miracles and love.

Love to everyone on this day.


Overwhelming Thankfulness

All is quiet now.

My life has been touched by His peace.

So very thankful.

My month of pain has ended.

For over a month, I suffered from horrible headaches, from morning to night.

I prayed.  I prayed and asked for help.

When I realized that things were not normal, this pain, day after day, I knew I needed help.

It was the loving encouragement from my sister and brother, and that real feeling of someone tapping me on my shoulder as I sat reading that saved me.

I went to see a doctor for the first time in over thirty years.

My life spared from potential disaster.

Things are better, and with His love, I will hopefully heal and repair the damage I have done to myself over time.

Joy has returned to this life of mine!

Never will I take another day for granted.

No more feeling sorry for myself, no more constantly thinking I am not loved.

That tap on my shoulder on that cold, pain filled evening, let me know He is always with me, and loves me.

Looking forward to our simple Thanksgiving Day, me, my son, and my husband, filled with overwhelming thankfulness.

He touched my life with peace, and joy!

I wish all a blessed Thanksgiving.

Enjoy and appreciate all that you have on this day, the warmth of a home, food, the love of family, and the love of our Lord, who never leaves us.

 

 

 

Sometimes We Need Flowers

It is rare that I buy flowers for myself.

Yesterday, as I passed the floral department at my local grocery, I could not resist picking up a bunch of fall colored flowers.

I decided the beautiful, vintage Mason jar, that belonged to my momma, would be perfect to hold my flowers.

As I carefully washed the Mason jar, thoughts of a one day trip I took with my momma came to mind, just momma, just me.

We shared a love of homemade crafts.

My mom did the sewing, and I painted.

We loved to shop for new ideas, new patterns, trying to have something wonderful to sell at the many craft fairs I participated in, displaying our items.

Momma always supported me, and loved to help me in whatever way she could.

Our one day trip was to Nashville, Indiana, not too far from where we lived, only about 2 hours.

The drive gave us time to be together, just momma, just me.

We talked, and smiled at each other, enjoying our time.

Nashville is just a lovely little town in a beautiful setting, lots of shops, and yummy places to have lunch.

Nashville in the fall time of the year is just heaven.

Our family has been there so many times over many years, renting cabins, or staying in the lodge at the Brown County State Park.

As we shopped, mom found a wire Mason jar holder in one of the country type shops.  She had wanted a holder to display her vintage jar, given to her by her sister.

Mom loved the wire holder with the sweet wood handle.

She kept her jar in the holder, and displayed it lovingly in her kitchen, it is now in mine.

My flowers in momma’s jar are beautiful, so pleased with this simple arrangement.

Added a few fall leaves as a finishing touch.

The end of our loving day together was me dropping momma off at her home, and as she always did without fail, stood and waved to me until I was out of sight. Oh my, it hurts to write this!

My grocery store flowers will wilt and die, but our trip, just momma, just me, will be a loving memory always!

Blessings to all, spend time with those you love, and buy yourself flowers!

 

Grandparents Day

Today is Grandparents Day!

I could not let this day go by without sharing my memories.

Oh my goodness, I loved my grandma.

Just so special to me when I was growing up.

Spending a week with her several times during the summer was heaven to me.  Just me and my grandma!

As a child, and in many ways still as an adult, I was a loner, not many friends.

Grandma was my friend in the early years of my childhood.

I watched her sew, making a pink dress for me by hand, simple, with only a lovely piece of old lace for the collar.

Loved the porch times we spent together, many times snapping green beans for dinner.

No one made green beans like my grandma.

Coffee in the mornings, with lots of milk, in my own adult cup.  Grandma is the reason I love coffee so much to this day!

Love this photo of her because it shows her hands.We would sit side by side and she would hold my hand, I remember her aging hands, hands that I now have.

Thoughts that bring tears to my eyes!

To my surprise, grandma came to a bridal shower my sister had for me, her gift to me, a tablecloth she crocheted.  I cherish that tablecloth to this day.

Grandma loved to crochet, memories of many crocheted doilies in her home as in the photo above.

Grandma came from such humble beginnings, the hills of Kentucky, Wallins Creek.

Love this photo that I recently received.  No shoes!  Me too grandma, I never like to wear my shoes, they come off as soon as I enter my house.

Seven children, losing a beautiful boy, pictured below, at five years old from a horrible accident, and a baby girl at 9 months old from pneumonia.

Heartbreaks I never heard my grandma talk about.

She loved her family, she loved children.

I am sure her best days were those when her home was full of family, cooking, table filled with country food, gathering together, her daughters singing gospel songs while doing the dishes.

Granny came to my home only once that I can remember. She climbed the steps up to my son’s room when he was very small.

Sitting on the bottom bunk of his bunk beds, grandma patiently listened to him talk and show her everything in his sweet room.

He played records for her on his little record player, his favorite, “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”, by Jimmie Rodgers, she loved every minute of their time together and often spoke of that day.

I never heard my grandma raise her voice in anger, never.

She was just good, kind, and loving, as I feel most folks from country living are.

Memories of grandpa are few, sitting on his lap and the smell of his pipe are the only ones I have.

He was a hard worker, a coal miner, a laborer.

He died young, in his fifties.  He appears much older in this photo, a coal miner’s life was hard.

I could go on and on, the more I turn my thoughts to grandma, the more I remember.

If you are fortunate enough to still have grandparents, give them a gift today of your time, talk to them, learn from them, love them.  You will not regret it!

Wish I would have done more of this with my grandma!

Love you granny, always.

 

 

 

She Loved to Wear Earrings

A week or so ago I had lunch with my sister, something we do together quite often.

Just the two of us, we talked, we laughed, and that day there were a few tears.

I love her so.

Before leaving, she gave me a small box, old, torn, held together with a rubber band.

As she handed the box to me she said, “I thought you would like to have these”.

Inside the box, our Momma’s earrings.

Momma loved to wear earrings, matching them with whatever outfit she was wearing on any given day.

No gold, no diamonds, nothing expensive, just her gathering of costume jewelry earrings.

I opened the box and ran my hand across the contents several times that day, closing my eyes almost seeing Momma wearing many of them.

Some are vintage, all so beautiful to me in so many ways.

I immediately knew they did not belong in a box buried someplace in a dresser drawer.

Carefully, I placed them in a clear jar and set the jar on my desk.  A quiet area where I sit and work many times throughout the day.

The sun shines in on my desk area, oh how the earrings sparkle!  Just like Momma when she wore her earrings!

My son commented that he remembered Grandma wearing so many of them!

I am sure all his cousins would say the same thing.

So very sad she is not sitting at my desk next to me.

I thank my sister for this gift, and the many days of joy I will get out of just looking at this jar of memories.

For now, a place on my desk, close to my favorite photo of me and Momma.

Just like photos, I believe in displaying keepsakes, I want them all around me so I will never forget those special times, and folks I love!

Blessings.

 

 

 

Red, White, and Blue Memories

Last week we spent our 4th of July, as we do most days, just simple and quiet.

Our fireworks were sparklers!

Of course, a bit of decorations.

Some may find it foolish, but it is something I like to do!

That’s just me!

My son helped me grill some burgers, corn in the husks, and some ice cold watermelon.

He asked me if I remembered the neighborhood bike parades we had on the 4th, as he was growing up.

Of course I do, fun for him to use balloons, crepe paper, streamers, anything red, white, and blue to decorate his bike.

When we purchased our home in 1978 our neighborhood was full of families, many children for my son to grow up with, so thankful, since he was an only child.

We had wonderful backyard cookouts, moms in charge of the food, and dads in charge of the fireworks.

Things changed as the years passed, many families moving on, children grown and off to school.

Our neighborhood is mostly filled with older folks now, many living alone.

We have new neighbors in the house next to ours, moving in within the past month.

A young family with two beautiful little girls, and a sweet dog who runs around the yard with a full size stuffed animal in his mouth.  Many times he brings the toy over to the fence for us to see, so very cute!

When we are sitting on our back porch it brings us joy to see them all together.

Much of our 4th was enjoying this family in their pool, the dog too!  He loves to get in the pool!

I realize that our 4th celebrations of years ago, are no longer.

That “season” of my life has passed, but oh how I thank our Lord for the memories!

Happy summer memories and love to all today.

 

 

 

Living Paycheck to Paycheck

“Living paycheck to paycheck”, a phrase we hear folks say from time to time.

This phrase has a kinda silly, crazy, meaning for me!

Money is so very tight for me and my husband since I stopped working.

Of course, having extra money is not the most important part of our lives.  That is why my decision to stop working to spend more time with my husband, as he deals with a progressive disease, was the right thing to do.

I am learning to do without a bunch of extra things.  It is really not so hard.

We are on a budget, but we both are allowed a bit of spending money each month, my husband saves his, I use mine for my hair, lunches out, thrift store visits and such.

So, at the end of each month, right before “payday”, I see what I have left.

If there is something beautiful I have been wanting, and my “end of the month money” allows, I treat myself!

This was my latest “end of the month money” purchase.

A beautiful canvas of an angel holding a baby.

The cost was $30 at Kirkland’s.

It was special to me when I saw it, reminding me immediately of the day my son was born, holding him in my arms for the first time.

I prayed to our Lord that day, “please send a special guardian angel to always watch over him”.

The colors are soft and lovely, I really love it!

The canvas has found a home above my painted gray, thrift store table.  So beautiful together.

Tuesday was the day before my monthly spending money was replenished!

I had $5 in my wallet, all was good!

Love you all!

May the angels watch over all of you, and those you love.

Have a blessed Sunday.

 

 

Another Trip to the Country

A week ago, I was so blessed to be invited to visit my niece, the love of her life, and her extended family.

Good, kind, lovely folks.

She lives further north in the country, Ohio farmland.

Today I write few words, but many photos of my precious visit.

Early morning, loved the blues, and the pinks in the sky, so beautiful.

Sitting on their porch, early, having a cup of coffee is heaven to me.

The fields yet to be planted.

You must be in the country when your neighbors are bulls and cows!

We took a day to visit nearby Amish country.

Plenty of meats, cheeses, and bakery goods.

Stopped for a peice of peanut butter pie and coffee.  Oh my, so good!

Beautiful land with immaculate farms.

Many buggies gathered, and bikes too!

Gathered for a Saturday morning baseball game.

The ladies all sitting together, so cute!

We visited a few shops, my favorite, “Red Poppy Store”, farmhouse decor, of course!

The shopper is my sweet niece!

She likes to shop, just like me!

Love her so!

Thank you for letting me share.

There is a peaceful, simplicity about their home.

Gathering on the porch, just visiting, laughing, enjoying each other’s company.

Hope to visit again sometime this summer.

It is one of the joys in my life, just a wonderful place to be!

Blessings from our Lord, to all of you, on this Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Pets – Lessons Learned

I have the sweetest kitty in my life right now, she wants to be with me almost every moment of my day.

Kitty follows me everywhere as I am going about my daily routine.

Upstairs and down she follows, and then she sits and watches me, patiently waiting as I complete my tasks, accepting any word or touch I give her along the way.

She is so sweet, so different from most other cats we have had in our lives.

Months ago I read an article about lessons we can learn from our pets.  The article was written by Femke Tewari, a lifestyle photographer.  She writes about her dog, but so much of what she writes is true of my little kitty.

I found the article and want to share parts of it with all today.

“The highlight of a dog’s day is when you come home.  They’re usually so happy — almost hysterically so — even if you have only been gone for 10 minutes.  This makes us feel good and love them more.

A dog forgives instantly, which is why we can never seem to stay upset with them.

When a dog wants attention or wants to be cuddled, he asks for it.  And he receives.

Dogs usually like to be physically very close to their family.  If they have the chance, they will either be on your lap or at least lying by your feet wherever you are.

A dog’s love for his family is truly unconditional.  This makes the family’s love for the dog unconditional too.

   There is so much we can learn from our furry family members.  Why not take a cue from their actions and see how it improves the relationships with our loved ones?  Let’s show our children and spouses how happy it makes us when they come home at the end of each day.  Let’s forgive quickly.  Let’s spend more time hugging, cuddling, and being physically close.  If we want to be hugged and kissed more, let’s just ask.  Dogs are proof that the more love you give, the more you will receive.  So Let’s try to love more and make it more unconditional, because that will most likely be what we will receive.”

Hope you enjoyed this article as much as I did.

Cuddle today, give love today, ask for hugs and kisses!

Simple blessings to all today.