Friday Five: life as it is

1. The knock out roses have become an amazing hedge.

 2. There is a brief window (pun intended) of time when the

pollen is gone, the intense humidity is yet to come,

and the windows can be flung open.

This week was one of those rare times.

 3. Porch scrubbing complete, I am feeling thankful for this tablecloth

I found at a yardsale. It brightens the porch and my day.

4. So happy to be reading an Elizabeth Goudge,

even though it's musty pages bring the occasional sneeze!

5. The reality of life. Our high bed is my folding table.

I do like a neatly folded stack of laundry, which this isn't.
At least yet.

Joining Five on Friday.

up close and personal

Last year the Gardener transplanted our peonies

from a spot where they just weren't getting enough sun.

Last year the blooms were barely worth taking note of.

This season looks promising. I brought our

first bud into the house and its bloom

is magnificent. I love the color and

decided to get up close and do a photo study of

our one solitary blossom (so far).

There's more buds on the bush and I'm looking forward to a great show!

Joining Judith's Mosaic Monday for the last time for awhile.

I think once a month is the plan.

Thank you, Judith for hosting weekly for so long!

five arches on friday

There's something so appealing about an arch.

At least to my eye. I reach for my camera when I see one.

Here are five of my favorites--two from a botanical garden in 

Grand Rapids, Michigan, one from the Blue Ridge Parkway, 

one from Istanbul, and one from Munich. 

You can probably guess which is which.

When I took this one in the pouring rain, I don't think I even realized

 it was an arch in an arch in an arch.

"All experience is an arch wherethrough gleams that untraveled world whose 

margin fades for ever and for ever when I move." Alfred Lord Tennyson

Joining Five on Friday

over the hill

There's a farmhouse on the other side of this little hill.

Joining Good Fences today.

Mostly a garden tour

 

1.  I walked around the garden with my phone camera today,

thinking to catch a few images before spring disappears.

The old swing has survived another winter.

It might be time for a good scrubbing and some repairs.

 2, The irises are on their way--I call them the "ladies with the big show."

There must be some metaphor for life here. They work all year to prepare for just a week of glory.

 3. The phlox are brilliant this year as they march further and further across our front garden.

Our strange spring weather is allowing them extra time this season. 

The transplanted peonies seem to like their new location.

Love their color and love their show, coming soon.

4. Because it got cool again, our winter beauties are giving us a grand finale of gorgeousness.

When the hot weather arrives they will be dug out and replaced by pansies.

5. I made this card for a friend's birthday from a photo I took of her buffet.

I love the painting that hangs in the background and did a little work in photoshop with it.

She didn't recognize it at first. We had a good laugh.

Bonus: I think I must be the tent grandma as they kids are always

asking me for one. Then they pack a knapsack of toys for playing in the tent,
as if they are on a little journey.

I realized today that I probably have more fun with 

my grandees than maybe anyone these days!

For the first time I'm joining Five on Friday, 

and already I've stepped outside the box and added a bonus.

Joining Amy's Five on Friday 
and Mosaic Monday.

tea for two

Actually, we had tea for four. 

When my friend M.E. asked if she could bring her mama from assisted living for tea at my house,

I was thrilled. I called my friend Lydia Grace to see if she could join us.

She is amazing with older people and when she comes to my house,

it's like Comfort walks in the door.

We had a wonderful time with our special 92 year old guest.

She may not see or hear well, but she is as sharp as a tack with 

an incredible wealth of knowledge. 

She tells a good story with a dry dose of humor mixed in.

As we talked we learned she was born in the same hospital as my mom was way up north,

and her daughter, M.E., and I were both born in the same midwestern hospital! A fun fact.

M.E. and her mama arrived with a hatbox filled with "Tea for Two."

They were eager to show it off.

Out came the booklet with directions for having a tea for two box.

Contents: one pretty tablecloth with napkins, two cups and saucers, two teaspoons,

sugar cubes, creamer and suger bowl, tea bags and of course a teapot.

Also required would be some sweets and a thermos of hot water.

This should be kept by the door and ready to take to a friend for tea when needed.

Or to use when a friend comes to your door.

It was delightful to read about "Tea for Two" and see her tea things.

Once back at the care center, M.E. reaches high up to place the 

hatbox on top of the wardrobe in her mama's room.

On top goes a big hat, and it's all lovely to gaze upon.

There's no doubt who received the biggest blessing the day we had "tea for four."

Joining Monday Mosaics.

just dandy

I have a little neighbor who brings me the loveliest

miniature bouquets, stuffed in her tiny hand.

"If it's starting to wilt," she says, "Don't worry, there's more."

Her mama is teaching her how to love others well.

I recently came across this crumbling ledger from my 

great-great grandfather, a farmer, and this particular page is from

this month, a mere 130 years ago.

He has interesting spelling and rough penmanship but he seemed

to keep good accounts. What caught my attention in several places was 

the mention of "dandelions." Twice on this page, though it might

be hard to see. It makes me wonder if dandelions used to be a desired flower.
Or maybe they were good in a salad.

They are bright and cheery and would be charming in a flower bed.

Is a weed just a flower someone deemed undesirable?

I've missed reading blogs. It's been a packed two weeks:

having the grandees here for a few days overnight including rides to school,

homework, piano, and potty training. This tired grandma experienced

exhaustion like never before! (but joyful exhaustion.)

Then we scooted out of town, met some deadlines, and life has just been busy.

small changes

Since we moved into our house 17 years ago (it seems more like a year ago)

the "family" room has been difficult. It's more of a hallway

than a room to sit in, and while we have figured out how

to arrange things, the lighting never felt right.
It was like a "burr in my saddle" type feeling.

I finally had the idea to switch two lamps to new places.

And I wonder why it took me so long to figure it out.

Such a small change, but a whole new world of coziness.
And the saddle burr is gone.

I try to do one small change each day.

Even if it's organizing a single drawer

or cleaning out one file …

Doing so gives me a definite sense of improving things,

and that's a good feeling.

PB

Do you know the peanut butter song?

I like to sing it when we are having peanut butter sandwiches at lunch …

to the grands…just as I sang it to their daddy.

Highchairs have disappeared from their house, but this

Littlest One seems to love the novelty of sitting in our old highchair

when at our house. (They think grandma's house is filled with old fashioned 

things, just like her name!) Also the chair is placed close to the vintage 

phone still hanging on the wall. Lively phone conversations 

have been known to take place during lunch.

Peanut butter and honey can be really messy and this little girl does not like messes.

A girl after her grandma's heart.
And today she turns 3  ! ! !

Joining Monday Mosaics.

what is it about morning

Early morning. My favorite time of day.

When I was younger I was often up at five and 

out the door for several miles of fast walking.

(which might be why I had to have a new knee)

Early morning, when the sun is at it's best.

Early morning, full of energy.

The smell of fresh coffee,

and the first sip, steam sweeping up to my face.
A day seems to go better when it's starts early.

I love the quiet and the solitude.

The empty parking lot at the shops.

Freshly stocked grocery shelves all tidied up.

Newness.

People pass by heading for work and a new day,

with hope for what the day holds. 

A fresh start, each and every day.

"Up at dawn, the dewy freshness of the hour, the morning rapture

of the birds, the daily miracle of sunrise, set her heart in tune,

and gave her Nature's most healing balm."

~Louisa May Alcott, 1873

when we least expect it

We capture moments of beauty in our hearts when we sometimes least expect it.

Just as we come across encouragement, wisdom, inspiration, good ideas

or "aha" moments as we read blog posts.

I'm wishing right now I could remember all I've learned

from other blogs. Recommended books,

recipes, craft ideas, home improvements...

I've probably incorporated some of them into our lives

so much so that I forget where I learned them.

Rhondi, who sometimes blogs at Rose Colored Glasses,

gave me the idea to rub a little chapstick on winter cracks 

on my thumbs. It blocks the air which causes so much pain.

It works! I've been grateful for that little tip many times over.

We will always be grateful to Pondside who

sent us an inspiration photo and suggested a full surround 

rather than just a mantle for our tired fireplace, now five years ago.

And there's so much more ….

How about you?

when it's warm

 We used to grab a fan.

 Mostly all beautiful, they really are pieces of art.
And were good for flirting.

I wish I knew more about these old fans,

seen in the John & Mable Ringling Art Museum in Sarasota, Forida.
But I do know it sure is warm enough here to use one today.

Linking to Mosaic Monday.

gathered again

Once again we gathered around a beautiful table to discuss another book. 

This time we enjoyed a lighter, but totally inspiring book, 

Bread and Wine: A Love Letter for Life Around the Table, with Recipes, 

by Shauna Niequist.

The book was an easy read, and full of descriptive recipes 

(including one--bacon, goat cheese dates--oh yum).

I didn't photograph the food but much of it was made from the book. 

Such a good time.

A favorite quote from the book: 

 "It's not strictly about food for me. It's about what happens when we come together,

 slow down, open our homes, look into one another's faces, listen to one another's stories. 

It happens when we leave the office and get a sitter and skip our workouts every 

so often to celebrate a birthday or an accomplishment …. when we break out of the normal 

clockwork of daily life and pop the champagne on a cold gray 

Wednesday for no other reason than the fact the the faces 

we love are gathered around our table."

A surprise "door prize" was one of the daffodil centerpieces: given to the 

person who made the most recipes while reading the book! 

taking a risk

Risk seems to be in all our lives to one degree or another.

Goodness, we take risks just crossing the street or driving to the market.

If given a choice, I don't often choose risk.

But recently I "threw caution to the wind" and had a chair recovered.

It's hard for me to believe it's the first time I've done such a thing.

Before.

A friend passed on this chair to us years ago.

It's sturdy and comfortable and just doesn't wear out.

But it needed a facelift.

A drawback to the whole deal was finding fabric.

Decisions aren't easy for me.

So I took the Gardener with me to a small fabric shop with

 an underwhelming number of choices. 

I place more value on "manageable" than "overwhelming."

There was, of course, a huge sale.

I had gone earlier in the week and found some "likes."

Of course the Gardener didn't want to spend much time 

 so I hurried the choice (and prayed!)

And when the long roll of cloth came home with us …

the second guesses came along with it.

Depending on the light it could even look a tad dirty… 

Oh my.

Determined to be happy with it I called the the upholsterers to come.

And I loved that three generations rang the bell and came into the house,

from grandpa (paperwork) to father (mover of chair) to daughter in braces and braids (PR and smiles.)

A great team.