not just a granny square

When we taught our mentor girls how to crochet one thing led to another.

Before we knew it there were some 40 women in our church getting

together once a month to share patterns, ideas, and bring together our completed projects.

When everything is gathered together, the colors are vibrant and amazing.

Our prayer shawls, potholders, dishcloths, soap holders, lap blankets, baby blankets,

booties, baby caps, headbands, dish scrubbers, baskets, scarves, blankets … and more …go all over

our city and the world beyond, and wherever they go, 

recipients smile and are blessed by the gift. 

In June we sent 1200 items with a team to Haiti. 

Soap holders that double as washcloths are used there, 

as well as potholders for women cooking over open fires, 

or to protect their hands when carrying heavy buckets of water.

We put wings to the work of our fingers!

summer nights

 The city on a warm summer evening is one of my favorite places to be.

There's always a breeze and people to see.

We like to take a picnic supper along and eat near one of the many fountains.

 On a recent night we ate with friends on the second floor of the structure shown in the upper

right, above, until security kicked us out. Apparently it was "closed" after 6 pm.

Thankfully we did not bring the usual china or candles, so quickly scooped up our picnic 

and headed to a lower table, feeling a bit like teenagers caught in the wrong spot.

A good summer to me includes a couple of evenings here.

As darkness descends and the lights come on 

there just isn't a much prettier or relaxing place to be.

Joining Mosaic Mondays.

rain catcher

 I've always thought our side (back) door looked a little plain.
And a great place to get wet as

one awkwardly manages umbrella and packages

while unlocking the door during a rainstorm.

 We finally did what we have talked of for years.
I think it adds a little charm to our house.

 Thankfully we've had some rainstorms recently.

Good for the grass and garden's sake, but

also a chance to try out our new addition.

And it works great! 

just right

 We enjoyed a big celebration this weekend for friends

from Europe back for a visit and at the same time,

a 60th birthday. It was fun to work on decorations.

The above rice jar was my P*nterest find.

 The long table on a friend's porch easily fit 14 of us.

The next morning we enjoyed a parade in our cul de sac put on by the 

children who live here, followed by some yummy treats on their porch.

Our kids were away so we enjoyed quiet the rest of the weekend.

First a tiniest of road trips to the other side of town,

then grilling chicken just for two,

and finally, watching the fireworks on TV.

Later falling asleep to the sounds of fireworks in the distance.

A perfect weekend.

whimsy eggplant parmesan

One fresh eggplant, sliced, oiled and broiled (and salted.)

 Ground turkey browned along with onion, sweet pepper, 

zucchini and olives.

 Sauteed mushrooms in garlic and oil.

 Layer sauce, eggplant, cottage cheese, meat

and veggies (including left over roasted vegs)

grated cheese, then do it all over again.

Top with a thin layer of sauce and more cheese.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes,

serve with a salad.

My whimsical take on veggie eggplant parmesan this week.

It was good.

summer captions

It's been so hot. Over 100 degrees each day this week. 

Finally today after some much needed rain a break in the heat.

Outdoor concert with a favorite hometown band. 

What little boy doesn't want to celebrate at least one birthday with a dirt cake?

Littlest One insists on wearing her sunglasses inside and upside down. 

Fathers' Day at our church: all the men and boys up front to sing.

A warm night of dominoes and 60s music with friends on the porch.

It wasn't til later that I realized why this game was so hard for me.

Look at how busy the tablecloth is along with the colorful dominoes.

No wonder!
Joining Judith's Mosaic Monday

hair story

My hair is so, so thick that I feel confident that I'll probably never start balding as some women eventually do. The only time I've messed with my hair color was in college when I combed in "Clairoxide" in the summer to add some blonde highlights. My increasingly gray highlights are natural even though I'm often asked about my color. While I've always wished my hair wasn't so very straight, its curious that at this age I'm suddenly getting cowlicks, and not in advantageous spots. I have found a hair stylist that I adore. Christie listens to what I want, does many of my friends' hair (so it's a little taste of "Mitford") and even better, her price is so cheap. Just in the past week two women have asked where I go, and I have to say that Christie is "closed." No more new customers. This girl is busy. And she can hide my cowlicks.

She loves to talk about the color of my hair. She says more and more women are coming in and asking for gray, which I find amusing, unless she's just trying to make me feel good. Are these women taking a turn to reality, or is it because gray is so popular in decorating?

So here's the story. One day Christie told me about an 80-something woman whose hair color is just like mine. She comes in weekly for a trim because her hair grows so quickly. She's an "active 80" and has beautiful white hair, but gets gray highlights because she's not ready "to go totally white." While I was getting my hair cut a sharp looking woman, looking to be in her early 70s or late 60s walked in and greeted Christie. She sat for a bit but then grabbed a broom and started sweeping the floor. Her gray highlighted hair was lovely. How amusing that this was the same 80-something woman Christie had just been telling me about. And our hair is identical. I hope I will be in as good shape in my 80s. Just from chatting with her a bit I'm guessing a lot of it has to do with her outlook on life.

And, by the way, it's quite a feat to photograph the back of one's head.

on providing

I've been using my iPad to read the first book in the Narnia series to my granddaughter. We began just to satisfy her curiosity, and then she got hooked. How I loved reading the series to her dad and his brother, and now I'm enjoying sharing it with her. The first day we read I found something on line. I'm not sure how these copies are done, but sometimes a letter is left off a word, etc. We're never sure we'll find it the next time we read so I decided to reserve a copy from our library. I went online and found only two in our large city library system. I tried to reserve a copy but it looked like someone already had so I knew I wouldn't get the book soon.

I was telling the Gardener my surprise at the lack of Narnia in our city library and how I had tried to reserve it. It was the plan for me to go over to their house to read and babysit after lunch. As I headed out the door my phone beeped with a message -- from the library -- my reserved book was ready. Had I actually reserved it? Who knew! Then followed another beep and a message from DIL--could I come 15 minutes later? That would give me just the time I needed to stop by the library.

It was an old copy with the same sweet sketches as in the one I read to my kids. I was eager to tell Little B about the provision of this book -- I call such things a "wink" or "smile" from God.  For isn't He concerned about everything in our lives? Both big and little? She took in my story, eyes a bit wide, and then her mom iced the cake.

"What was our lesson in VBS this morning, B?"

It was on "God provides for us."

Another wink.

the tiniest of vacations

 We went to a wedding in Greenville recently and 

decided to stay overnight and visit the city park before heading home.

 What an amazing park in the middle of the city. 

You notice how the suspension bridge left one side free

for viewing the waterfall?

We walked and bench hopped and even found a swing to enjoy.

The morning was cool before the heat set in.

It was the tiniest of vacations, but as we all know,

even a couple of hours in such a place can be refreshing.

Joining Mosaics on Monday today.

a second kiss

Well actually I never got a second kiss, but I could have. The Gardener was off to 

other parts of the world. I ask him again and another time and maybe a third or fourth time 

as he packs, "Do you have your passport?" "Yes, yes." 

Always a man full of patience with my repeats.

Friday afternoon rush hour traffic. I leave him at the airport door and my mind briefly 

flirts with the days past when I would go in and sit with him until boarding. Before 2001.

I'm on the expressway headed home. Traffic surrounds me as by now employees are flocking from the city with the weekend in mind.

My phone rings and I answer cautiously (I'm driving you know) 

and hear the Gardener's voice.

With passport safely tucked on his person, he tells me he has left something very important at home, crucial for his work. Can I make it home and back before the flight leaves? Bumper to bumper as my mind races about which route might be better. I breathe a frantic prayer and it almost seems like God parts a path through the steel on wheels.

How many times do we ask what we did before cell phones! I try to remember how things evolved the one time he actually did forget his passport. I must have known before I left him at the airport. That ended up being a frantic trip home and back and a begging of the next flight to LA, where he had a layover,  to carry his passport to him.

I feel more comfortable as I glance over now at the gray laptop on the seat beside me. We are on our way back and traffic is flowing. I make it just in time. He rushes to the car a little breathless with a face full of gratitude and relief. A tall man can't reach into a car across to the driver. "A kiss" I beg. Sorry no time to come around; there's a plane to catch. No second kiss. 

We touch hands through the open window and off he goes.

texted beauty

 Beauty comes in all ways, and sometimes through a text.

 I love it when someone sends me a picture they know I will appreciate.

 It's like saying "I'm thinking of you."

 These are a few beauties I've receive on my phone recently.

All but the top one came from my boys.

These vibrant beauties were not texted but came right through the front door.

Neighbors got them at the "left over market." There is still a lot of life

 in them. It was sweet to see the girls from next door carrying 

a big bright bouquet to each neighbor in our cul de sac.

We put some on the tables later when we all gathered for a cook-out.

home…again

 (my grandmother's house)

Each house I pass by is a piece of art for me. I grew up being a house 

person--our whole family seemed to love houses maybe because 

both my grandfathers had businesses involving houses. 

My favorite place in the whole world is home, but I know not all houses 

are homes, and not all homes are the havens that my home was growing up. 

It's a blessing I don't take for granted.

I've written a lot about home on this blog and here I go again!

I place a high value on comfort and peace in our surroundings.

Where we live there is a lot of pressure to "update" our homes both 

outside and inside, furniture, bathrooms, kitchens, etc.

Sometimes it's tempting, but I prefer the old heirlooms,

the stuff that tells me stories, has character, 

and promotes cozy. 

I love the descriptions of a home in E. Goudge's Pilgrim's Inn. 

I could read it again and again.

"There did not seem to be a straight line anywhere, and yet the old place 

gave no impression of decay. …The room was gracious, lived-in, 

warm, glowing, and altogether glorious….

Standing there in the sunlight and firelight, George and the children felt as

though they had come home. They looked at each other, but could not speak."

a grand day

What a treat! A whole day together ("Not-so-Little-Anymore" had a half day of 

school and then joined us). From marble races, to helping grandpa, to discovering daddy's 

old skateboard, to coloring while "talking" to mom on the old phone, 

to reading chapters of Narnia, to time at the playground 

and learning to balance, to tea parties and matchbox cars … the day was incredibly full …

and at least one of us slept really well that night!
Can you guess who?

Linking to Mosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage.

inside the lines

I often remember my good friend Lydia Grace, a former teacher, talking about the 

freshness and excitement of new notebooks, untouched erasers and
especially sharp pencils the beginning of each school year.

When it came time to have a cup of tea to celebrate her birthday,

I thought it might be fun to spend some time coloring together.

I'd read somewhere that coloring was becoming a popular relaxation 

pastime for adults, and why shouldn't it be? Once I started thinking about it, 

I saw it everywhere--on the Internet and in craft stores.

So I got some coloring sheets and very sharp colored pencils,

and after we had finished our scones, fruit and cheese, 

we set out to color while we continued to sip tea and chat.

It was very relaxing … and fun! 

garden sits and sights

Birds, flowers, vegetables, trees and sitting places

are in abundance in our back yard.

We enjoy places to sit and rest from our outdoor labors.

I've never been good at remembering names of 

flowers or birds…other than the better known ones. 

I just enjoy them and love being able to pick fresh flowers for indoors.

The knock-out roses knocked themselves out again this year.

We took down the boys' tree house when we moved from our old house

and used the wood to build raised garden beds.

There remained just one bit--the ladder.

The Gardener decided it was time to let the zucchinis roam on their own,

so he got the ladder from storage and made these beds.

Look closely and you can see ladder rungs.

The zukes seem to like it!

Joining Mosaic Monday.

transformed

I've been looking for a small sideboard for years. It had to be a certain size and those measurement were always tucked in my purse along with a small measuring tape.

When I least expected it, there she was! She was actually the lower part of a hutch. The seller told me people buy the tops of hutches and make them into bookshelves. This was a good piece, solid maple and very well built. "You will paint it, won't you?" he asked.

It seemed a shame to cover such beautiful wood but another reason for my quest was a 

desire to try out some creativity by painting and distressing a piece of furniture. I can remember

my mom doing something similar when I was in high school, back then they called it "antiquing."

I did research on chalk paint and watched "how-to" videos. I learned a lot and 

was ready to give it a try on a weekend when the Gardener was out of town.

It worked just as it was supposed to. But when it came time to distress it,

I was more than a tad nervous.  I took a deep breath and began the process.

I'm not sure I did it totally according to directions, but

I do like how it turned out.

 The most fun was transforming the hardware 

from brass to a sort of burnished silver patina.

It was so easy.

The biggest challenge was moving this heavy piece of furniture

from garage to house. We had a dolly and amazingly
moved it without having to call on a neighbor for help.

I love having more room for storage
and space to serve when we have dinner guests.

I probably should get a pair of tall buffet lamps eventually, 

but for now I'm just enjoying it as it is.

I did not use ASCP but what I call a "knock off" from

our local big box hardware store. It seemed to work fine,
though never having tried the other, I can't compare.

Linking to Mosaic Monday.

through the decades

We had a wonderful ladies' brunch this past Saturday at our church.

Young and old, friends, mothers, daughters, and grandmothers gathered around

beautifully decorated tables. One table per decade from 1900 to 2000. 

The desserts were fun, and no two were alike.

I enjoyed all the tables, but some were favorites.

The 1930s table showed off my depression glass.

Vintage hankies were tied as napkin rings.

1940s was a salute to our military,

and included love letters between a soldier and his bride,

written by great-grandparents of one of our women.

The 1950s was fun, familiar looking and colorful.

More color with the 80s.

There were "generic" tables as we needed more than the ten decade tables.

After the delicious brunch we had an amazing fashion show of mainly dresses

worn between 1910 and 2000. Very stylish with music and narrative to match.

Elvis visited and entertained us with a song, and 

the morning ended with a wonderful speaker.

It was a great start to a lovely mothers' day weekend.

thinking on mothers

I often think of the women who came before me,

and now especially on Mothers' Day.

Their way of doing things 

probably influence me today.

Oh the stories they could tell of their hard lives.

I'm grateful for how well they raised their children,

and how they passed down their personal knowledge of God's love.

(I only knew one of my four great-grandmothers.)

a new salad

I see the salad on its way to the table. 

My senses rise to respond to it's sheer beauty. My mouth waters. 

I can't wait to taste it and am not disappointed. A harmony of flavors. 

Rich in color, taste and nutrients. I ask our hostess how she made it 

and even email her later to be sure I have the details correct. 

Part of the beauty of the salad is that it is so adaptable. 

Put in it what you want. 

Really!

The lettuce is chopped with a knife.

I thought lettuce is to be torn, not cut with a knife.

But I'm suddenly hearing about chopped salads.

You know how once you are aware of something you notice it everywhere …

When I make it myself I go along with the chopped part.  

And since we are eating it soon after preparation, it is fine.

I chop the lettuce into small pieces and set it in a wide flat bowl.

Then I chop the veggies and fruit.

Strawberries, grapes sliced long-wise, sweet red and yellow bell peppers,

red onions, cherry tomatoes halved in the middle (all this for eye appeal),

squash, apples or pears, dried cranberries. 

That's what I put in but much more could be added. 

Right before serving I generously dress chopped fruit/veggies 

with a sweet creamy dressing I make (or buy).

On top of the bed of chopped lettuce it goes (all kinds of lettuces are welcome).

Bring to the table and watch eyes light up.