Ordinary

What is it about the little ordinary eating places that draw in our hearts and make us memories?

We often just happen upon them. Their charm entices us; their quirkiness 

enthralls us, and a window seat is just "icing on the cake."

These are the places where we best celebrate and the moments we most remember.

Reposted from two years ago. Please see Chari's Happy to Design for more Sunday "reruns."

across the back fence

If we were chatting across the back fence today, this might be what I'd say:

1. The other day at that large super store with the initials WM, the on-the-ball checker asked to see my credit card, license ... and then, asked the date my license expired. Something new. What will be next? It took some time and squinting to find the expiration date but she waited patiently (I think she enjoyed it, actually) and I noticed those in line behind me had their licenses out and were scrunching their eyes trying to read the expiration dates.

2. I sometimes find my mother in her room just sitting. I asked her the other day what she thinks about. The past? The present? The future? "Probably a little of all three," she replied. I often wonder what it's like to be the one who outlives most everyone else she used to hang out with --- husband, sister, friends and most relations of her generation. She has much hope in the future, and is incredibly content in her life.


3. I don't watch the queen of daytime but I did turn the dial her way yesterday to see Michael D-uglas. I used to be a fan of the Streets of San Francisco when he acted with Carl--Maldon? (M.D. may be the only movie star I've seen close up--on a random street in Manhattan; he was getting into his car.) I liked how he spoke about his son, about his cancer, and about his wife, but especially about his son. And I kept watching to catch another glimpse of the bright red soles on O-rah's high heels. Simply amazing.

4. Speaking of red, our knock-out roses have grown by leaps and bounds this year, and are blooming up a storm. Impossible to keep up with them. Everyone else's around here seem to be doing the same. Pure beauty.

beach breakfast

One of my favorite birthdays was years ago when the Gardener and friends woke me up at 5 am to have  breakfast 

on the beach (Lk. Michigan) and watch the sunrise while we ate. It rises early up north in July!

Since we rarely get to that beach anymore, my favorite breakfast is now at the FL beach  near to where one of my sisters lives.
It's a shack really, at the end of a pier, and we always choose to eat outside.

  Fresh air, good food, fishermen to watch, and a view all around of the ocean.

The clouds always seem prettier down there than up here where we live.

I think this little fisherman caught something!

Linking up to OutDoor Wednesdays at A Southern Daydreamer!

spring on the farm

I've written before about my friend with a true gift of giving. A few years ago she called and 

asked if the Gardener and I would like to come hang out at her house for a day while they were away. She lives on an old farm out in the country. We took her up on the offer, had a pretty drive there, sat on her porch swing, soaked up the country air, napped on the couch, and simply had a marvelous, refreshing mini vacation. I could not resist taking photos, some of which you have seen on this blog before. I was just thrilled when she emailed me some photos she had taken 

this week of the same scenes I had taken a few years ago.

 A sort of update. 

If you look closely you will see the same mailboxes as those on my sidebar,

 only it looks as if they have had a sprucing up.

This old barn on her property is much loved, and as beautiful here in the spring as it was last fall.

empty

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the

 point of death, even death on a cross. 

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed 

on him the name that is above every name.

 (Philippians 2:7-9)

probably not peter rabbit

You know how you feel a little good inside when you see something in a magazine

 such as CntryLvng...something that also happens to be in your house? 

Well this little iron bunny belongs to my sister .... and looks

 like he or she came right off this page in March's CL.

To be cool like the others, Bunny just needs a few more knicks or

 bruises--you know, the stuff life is made of.

no (wo)man's land

There is a time that I hold dear. I call it "no (wo)man's land." On the rare occasions that I travel alone, it's the time from my arrival at the airport to the time when I grab up my luggage at my destination and head for the door.

Since I feel like I'm sort of "on call" all of the time ... this richness of time alone is a rare treat. I may be surrounded by people, but no one knows me and no one bothers me and no one I know really knows where exactly I am.

I read, or knit, or sip coffee, or rock in our airport's white rockers if one is empty, OR--most fun of all--people watch. And what a show. I could watch people all. day. long.

I recently traveled to see one of my sisters. You'll see some photos down the road. Meanwhile, this is HER white rocker. I had my rocking chair sit here since the airport rockers were fully occupied when I was there.

LOL: the term "no man's land" stems from WWI describing an area of land between two enemy trenches that no one wished to take control of. Hardly what I mean!

way south

My sister sent me some two beautiful collages of spring in her state of Florida.

I think she likes combining her photos like this as much as I do.

Connecting to Mary's Little Red House for Monday Mosaics.

this old barn

I came across this old barn when I was out in the country. I think it's beautiful.

naps

I've had this clipped picture from Country Home magazine on my frig for a long time. It's a place

 I would love to curl up to read a book or take a nap. So looking at it gives me a sense of peace.

A nap here would be great too--clipped from Country Living magazine...I can just

 feel the warm breeze coming through the window and hear the birds chirping in the trees! 

coffee?

A Kenyan coffee/tea shop in the highlands where it's cool enough to enjoy a steaming cup.

Connecting to Mary's Little Red House for Monday Mosaics.

lingering dogwoods

Our neighbor's dogwood tree is especially magnificent this year. Our very warm 

temperatures brought spring quickly this year, but because it then got cold, some 

things have lingered longer than usual. 

We've enjoyed this dogwood across the street for several weeks now!

If you don't know the legend of the dogwood tree, it's worth looking up!

simple things

I'm a detail person. I need to be for both my jobs. I like to take note of the small details of God's graces in my everyday life.

The other day I waited a long time at the drug store. And as I did, I watched the woman work at the cash register. I loved watching her hands work, and particularly the way she put things into a bag. Weird, I know.

I love the sound of tires on gravel. And my heart sings to the sound of a gentle rain. And a creaking porch swing, or the banging of a screen door. I used to love listening to my mother read a story and my heart still warms to the sound of her voice. I love the taste of a really sweet, juicy strawberry. Brightly colored yarn captivates me and I dream of how it will look as it molds around needles and goes to work becoming something. And I love the early mornings, when "the sun is at its best" and I have lots of energy.

Small, simple pleasures. At no cost, except to expend the energy to notice. These "gifts of joy" make the day more pleasant. It's even better when we slow down and and focus on them a bit. What would life be like without them?

closet peek

I know four little sisters who love to wear dresses!

My sister sent a photo of her granddaughters' closet for she knew I'd love it.  See Mary's Little Red House for more mosaics.

the power of a handwritten note

I was reminded recently of the impact a simple note can make. Several years ago I wrote to a family I did not know well, to encourage them about something we had in common. I never heard from them, nor saw them again. But because of what we share in common, I often think of them and wonder if they ever received what I wrote.

Eventually one day the father of the family sought us out at church. What a surprise to see him--we didn't even know if they were still at our (rather large) church. He remembered that note all these years later, and had been wanting to thank us, letting us know how much it had meant to them that we had remembered and had written it.

Lesson to be learned: "no feedback" doesn't mean anything. Just do what God tells you to do, and let it go from there. He does His work, using your little part.

Reposted from April three years ago. See Chari's Happy to Design for more Sunday Favorites.