today 2014

at the end of a cold. delightfully caught from two adorable kiddos. happy to sacrifice a few hundred kleenex for the cause.

home after a road trip. a few extra days spent on the way. conversations in the car. the beautiful images of the southwest landscape. the days there were non-stop energy. adventurous. happy. loving. wonder full. restful. romantic.

C calls Evangeline my 'monster truck'. makes me smile. and now he and his brother grace the video screen on her dash.

a lovely trip. bittersweet. but oh so good. to be home.

preparing for tonight's celebrations. New Year's Eve. our tenth in this house. friends. who are family, really. so much love in this happy home.

looking forward to a new year. and oh. the glories. to come.

'start the day with a smile and end it with champagne.'

we wish you a merry Christmas

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'

That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.

amen.

hello today

been quite the whirlwind these past few weeks. no time to think. much less post. and I must say. I've missed you.

my to do list has been exhausted. and ever so happy to leave it blank til 2015.

the Home Tour was a smashing success. and totally delightful. a lot of preparation. projects. but all worth while. we had a bit of a wonderful life theme running through. because. it is. the movie played in the den. complete with a bowl of popcorn and bottled sodas. a heartfelt message from Clarence, no man is a failure that has friends. bells to ring. little bells for guests to take. that was all fun. the boxer, now famous (yet humble as boxers are) from the Tour poster, donned a festive wreath around his neck. staging the dining room table with my mom's China and the kitchen table with jadite dishes and a bottle of champagne. and the sleeping porch. my favorite. a dreamy place with twinkle lights strung from the ceiling and rumpled quilts on the daybed and open books at the ready. folks couldn't have been nicer. and it was fun to see some old faces in the crowds. we shared the Tour and so the weekend with the neighbors which made it. simply. amazing.

posting pics soon.

the day after the Tour we hosted a dinner party for a dear friend. moving away to California. bittersweet. in the happiest of ways. another reason to head west. more. often.

the next day we celebrated with the Board. such an honor to work with.

the next day we packed up Evangeline and headed off for LA. with a stop in Marfa. and two night in Tuscon. lovely. relaxing.

and last night we arrived! to hugs. and laughter. and the start to a very merry Christmas.

we'll be back for the annual New Years Eve bash. 10 years. happy indeed.

beautiful Friday

Thanksgiving was a lovely day. spent with the hubs. friends. calls from the kiddos. cooking. football. floats. dominos. drinks. food. pie.

lots of chatter. eating. laughing. lounging.

and even a stop at Target at mid-night on the way home to snatch up a few specials. oh, my lovely grandbabies. what we do for you.

today. back to work. to-do list, dwindling. (thankful for that). I like this day. (for some unexplainable reason, I feel relaxed. in control.) a slow start on a sunny crisp morning. leftovers. Christmas music. twinkle lights.

'Pie
Pie
Me oh my
Nothing tastes sweet, wet, salty and dry
all at once so well as pie
Apple!
Pumpkin!
I'll come to your place everyday if you've got em'
Pie
Me oh my
I love pie.'

yellow

the hubs finished the bookcase last week. so I've been experimenting. and moving. and adjusting. the new mid-century nod is fun to play with. my mom's mustard yellow vase has finally found a home. as has a little dangly light bulb (with a charming porcelain socket) that was left behind in a previous remodel. and photos. and trinkets. and the odd. thing. that. makes. me. happy.

including a postcard that was purchased last year when we went to England. keep calm and carry on. (overused. but appropriate.)

I'm trying.

'I admit to having an imagination feverish enough to melt good judgment.'

okay. here goes.

it's very chilly here today. I heard on the news that our little burb was colder than Alaska. so a good day to stay in. tidy up. and plan the next few weeks.

and write a few words. I wasn't going to. but then. here goes.

yesterday I had two experiences. totally separate. but very confirming. not startling. eye-opening. but the kind that make you sit up and say. are you talking to me? yes. I believe you are.

I went to a meeting where the speaker talked about survival. thru love. compassion. humor. faith. pretty common sense. but sometimes it needs to be said. and the other thing he said was. it starts with me. no one else can do it. only me. me.

I went to a program where the speaker talked about mid-century architecture. he talked about the components of a building. and the areas therein. he quoted FLW talking about the hearth as the center of the home. and GW talked about that concept redefined. the hearth is as I define it. me.

the messages bounced around my head as I went to sleep last night. and were still rumbling this morning. it's certainly not all about me. but it begins here. and I go back. and back. and back. to the mantra. choose. it's fear or love, baby. I choose love.

so thanks. to that little voice. voices. that help. give hope. tell me I'm headed in the right direction. so. much. faith.

'let us suppose we are confronted with a desperate thing – say Pimlico. if we think what is really best for Pimlico we shall find the thread of thought leads to the throne of the mystic and the arbitrary. it is not enough for a man to disapprove of Pimlico; in that case he will merely cut his throat or move to Chelsea. nor, certainly, is it enough for a man to approve of Pimlico; for then it will remain Pimlico, which would be awful. the only way out of it seems to be for somebody to love Pimlico; to love it with a transcendental tie and without any earthly reason. if there arose a man who loved Pimlico, then Pimlico would rise into ivory towers and golden pinnacles… if men loved Pimlico as mothers love children, arbitrarily, because it is theirs, Pimlico in a year or two might be fairer than Florence. some readers will say that this is mere fantasy. I answer that this is the actual history of mankind. this, as a fact, is how cities did grow great. go back to the darkest roots of civilization and you will find them knotted round some sacred stone or encircling some sacred well. people first paid honour to a spot and afterwards gained glory for it. men did not love Rome because she was great. she was great because they had loved her.'

goodbyes

I am alone for a few days. well. alone except for the painters. and the guys who are refinishing the stair treads (that I was going to do but ran out of energy. ambition. and oh yeah, that precious thing, time). but alone for all that matters. the kiddos are gone. sigh. the hubs left this morning. sigh. and I am a big. grump.

I am in that state where the feeling of aloneness is overwhelming. missing my children. I love the visits. but they are so very far away. and when they visit. and leave. it just amplifies the distance. and the warm memory of their nearness. the sadness will pass. at least the monumental nature of it all.

I have a few projects I want to do. but right now I just want to continue on with this very boisterous pity party. in full swing.

'how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.'

just so you know

they're here. my heart is full.

now taking a few days to enjoy. but looking back at a few things this past week. and things I wanted to say.

I am thankful for a friend who stopped by with a tiny gift. just because she was thinking of me. I am sad that I did not get to could not say 'happy birthday' to a friend. I hope he heard my silent good wishes. I am grateful and so appreciative of the hubs. he is patient and kind and loving. despite all I ask of him. he gives and gives. and we had a very long talk. as we often do. but he is sometimes quiet. and I'm glad to hear his honest thoughts, even when we don't agree. so much love.

I am grateful. for all things.

'I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom.'

anticipation

is making me wait. and keeping me waiting.

darling son. and girlfriend. and grand-dog, Thelma. are due later today. happiness.

they are driving from California, via Colorado. and made a stop at the Grand Canyon. and, of course, she posed for a pic.

I love how much they love her.

'all you need is love. and a dog.'

solitude

the week has flown by. full of birthday. pampering. spoiling. preparation.

and now. the hubs is out of town. sigh. over his birthday. sigh. and darling son is traveling back home. and then home again. to the great state later this month. can't. hardly. wait.

seems like I measure my life in weeks past. weeks to come. to-do lists of projects. people. places. things.

today I finished the sleeping porch. the last coat of polyurethane. been waiting. working. on this room for a very long time. and later in the week I'll do my favorite thing. move in. just you wait and see.

now. I'm going to enjoy the quiet. sit. read. one for now. one for later. these times call for nothing serious.

'a large, still book is a piece of quietness, succulent and nourishing in a noisy world, which I approach and imbibe with a sort of greedy enjoyment, and said of those rooms of his old home whose air was saturated with the bouquet of silence.'

blue on blue

the sky is as blue as it can possibly be. I was downtown on our little Square this morning. couldn't resist taking a picture.

and it felt like we were there. together. because I knew the same color was shining. on you.

'and they were canopied by the blue sky,
so cloudless, clear, and purely beautiful,
that God alone was to be seen in Heaven.'

Sunday. coming & going.

rainy. glorious.

cold. almost gone. glorious.

a day spent with a dear friend. glorious.

a productive. sniffle-filled. caring. week behind.

a productive. busy. birthday-filled. loving. week ahead.

earlier this week a little patch of wildflowers appeared in my front garden. I didn't plant them. or see them before. I hope they come back. (alas, victims of the lawnmower. sigh.) they were just the perfect gift. unexpected. delightful. glorious.

'I imagine that yes is the only living thing.'

Wednesday

somewhere. out of this blue. I have a cold. ka-boom. I've been trying. somewhat successfully. unsuccessfully. to work at the computer today. but I keep getting interrupted. by my own ferocious need for a nap.

my mind keeps going back to a bit of banter between Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in You've Got Mail. yes. I love that movie. that is all.

'01:40:55 My head is starting to get fuzzy.
01:41:03 Why did you stop by again? I forget.
01:41:06 I wanted to be your friend.'

Sunday

then. remembering a weekend spent with the girls in Dallas. a visit to the Arboretum. a riot of pumpkins. the State Fair. butterfly atrium. lots of fried food. good conversation. laughter. friendship. (20 years worth).

now. listening to the hubs in the kitchen making breakfast. working on some volunteer stuff. on my third cup of coffee. a lazy Sunday. with hints of activity.

'your hair may be brushed, but your mind's untidy. no wonder you feel that lost sensation. you're sunk from a riot of relaxation.'

Saturday

how beautiful you are. a taste of fall. cool mornings. bright sunshine. a bit of a breeze.

tailgating at the local U today with the neighbors. such fun. family really. total love.

this morning I am making dessert. packing up the picnic accoutrements. listening to Alison Krauss.

looking forward to a simply. lovely. day.

'as soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was about to happen.'

Octoberfest

hello month #10. busy. happy. a reality check (but let's not dwell)(she says a bit panicky).

it's birthday month. several friends. husband. son. me. and the end of the month will bring a visit from birthday son. happily anticipated.

said goodbye to September at a celebration with friends. saying hello to October in a whisper.

'o’ pumpkin pie, your time has come ’round again!'

green day

while I am, quite literally, waiting for paint to dry. I thought I'd write.

had a lovely weekend with family. catching up on kiddos. making plans to future visits. being hopeful that more family will move to the great state. ever hopeful.

enjoyed meeting a new neighbor. friend and realtor, C, organized a bit of wine and cheese for us. could turn into a regular Sunday salon. I may have to study up.

worked more on the house. trying to finish the sleeping porch. on the last coat of paint (we matched the amazing shade of green that was once the trim color. so. excited.). then sealing the floor. then moving back in. can't. hardly. wait.

'red is passion, orange is flowerageous, yellow is suntastic, pink is sensual, green is lifebursting, blue is skyful, purple is berrydancing, gray is cloudrainy.'

great aunt redux

happy to report that our family is growing again! brother-in-law and also Susan wife announced last night that our niece was expecting in March. so the evening was a complete celebration.

one birthday. one birth date.

'so mayst thou live, dear! many years, in all the bliss that life endears!'

no title

some days. in the midst of a project. or a sentence. or a thought. at 2 am. or mid-day. my mind wanders. in and out of the past. present. future. it's really quite a lovely state.

some days. actually, quite a bit lately. I think of friends. some I've lost contact with. some reconnected. some moved. some left. all hold a place in my life. heart. and always will.

I like that awareness. always will.

'somebody asked me if I knew you.
a million memories flashed through my mind but I just smiled and said I used to.'

Wednesday babble

off to work later today. trying to take advantage of the morning to tidy up a bit. piles of ecru. white. the occasional pink. paper accumulates.

did some shopping on Friday. some success. rug options galore. I tried one crazy with color. contemplated a stylized British flag. a most wonderful day. the lazy morning. lunch out. and a very patient hubs that drove all over creation to make me happy.

the house is still a bit of a gigantic mess. but projects are getting done. several new outlets. stripped the border wall paper in the front entry. spray painted a wall sconce. finished the citron-colored table. slow. but. sure. delightfully so.

tomorrow holds great excitement. (1) the fireplaces are being finished. (2) brother-in-law and family are coming. celebrating a 6-0 birthday. with Franklin Barbeque for supper. looking forward to Thursday. indeed.

its a rainy day. finally. but the sun has just burst through the clouds and the garden is glowing with damp. glistening. greens. I will sit. and stare. the self-imposed stacks are calling. back to work. to a rainbow of distraction.

'why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? can one really explain this? no.'

Sunday morning

I love the quiet time on a weekend morning. the smell of coffee brewing. the low sounds of two neighborhood owls talking. back and forth. the occasional dog calling in the distance. just me with my thoughts. sometimes racing. but this morning. a gentle hum of things to do today. the week ahead. the days past.

the morning is cool. so I sit. socks on. warm coffee in hand. a touch of cinnamon in the air. and think.

'I love early mornings when it feels like the rest of the world is still fast asleep and you're the only one who's awake and everything feels like it isn't really real and you kind of forget about all your problems because for now it's just you, the world and the sunrise.'

remember this

as sappy as it may sound. I wasn't going to post today because it is 9/11. a day of respect for so much. so many. lost. it is not the only day that requests the honor. but it is today.

but the more I thought about it. I am posting out of respect. and to share a humble wish (soapbox please).

spurred on by the book I am reading. I wanted to share the author's Twelve Commandments. her principles on being better.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
1. Be Gretchen.
2. Let it go.
3. Act the way I want to feel.
4. Do it now.
5. Be polite and be fair.
6. Enjoy the process.
7. Spend out.
8. Identify the problem.
9. Lighten up.
10. Do what ought to be done.
11. No calculation.
12. There is only love.

I say being better vs being happy. I think one leads to another. go hand in hand. and lift us up. to a level. conscious. unconscious. that takes on an attitude. perspective. realization. revelation. that is good. true. kind. sincere. and yes, happy.

I was. am. highly motivated by another campaign. The 90-Day-No-Negativity-Challenge (the art of being human). and by the works of Brené Brown. common sense. of course. common practice. of course not.

the notion to be kind. pay it forward. love not fear. let me rephrase. the act to be kind. pay it forward. love not fear.

that's better.

'by doing a little bit each day, you can get a lot accomplished.'

on the ottoman

I moseyed across this book awhile back. checked it out of the library but never got to it (seems like all my holds come in at once. is that part of Murphy's Law?)

so it popped up again the other day and I scooped it up.

those of you who know me. know this. I am a happy person. blessed. loved. I really do have a perfect life.

so why read a book like this? because. and I was reassured that it was the right book for me when the author herself acknowledged that she was a happy person. blessed. loved. but we fail to truly appreciate it. we take it for granted. we're not as happy as we could be. life won't change unless we make it change.

I've only read part of the first chapter. but already I am. feeling. happy. about my choice.

I'll keep you posted.

'now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.'

things I learned this weekend

paint stripper (no matter what kind or strength) has little effect on 100 year old ornate fireplace surrounds with multiple layers of paint (of all variety). so this week said surrounds are going to the professionals to be blasted.

putting in new tile/brick/whatever on a fireplace is not a beginner project. so this week the same guys that are removing the metal surround will be re-bricking one of our fireplaces.

palm sanders are fun. (safety goggles & masks are not. albeit a necessity.) I thoroughly enjoyed sanding a bead-board wall of the remaining paint (yes. again. many layers.)

metal bleachers and approaching storms do not mix. the local U had their home opener football game last night. we left after the middle of the second quarter when a lightening delay was called. good thing. an hour later. the game resumed. for a few moments. before being called again. and then cancelled.

the local U football games are a wonderful way to spend a Saturday night. especially with the cool breezes of an approaching storm. and a bag of popcorn.

family announcements are delightfully anticipated. our nephew and his wife are having a baby boy. all these boys. will I ever get to buy a pink tutu? hope lingers.

it helps to be nimble when doing yard work. as I found when I was not so much clipping dead branches in the front bed. my finger is healing nicely.

random acts of kindness make my day. assorted phone calls. visitors. miscellaneous friendly gestures. are simply. lovely.

'give me a fruitful error any time, full of seeds, bursting with its own corrections.'

cheers

finished out the Express season today. a loss for the team. but fun nonetheless. and we got to run (ie walk) the bases after the game. a nice treat.

I like football. soccer. etc. but all pale in comparison to 9 innings and a diamond. looking forward to next year.

'love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too.'

today

me. oh. my. I will be glad when this week is over. been kind of nutty. busy. stressful. admittedly, all of my own making. I excel at procrastination.

my moods seem to be in full swing these days. up. down. short. patient. my head hurts. my heart aches so I can hardly breathe. I'm tired. I'm bright eyed. bushy-tailed. quite a range indeed.

my sister sent me this photo. our childhood home (early teen years - college) was demolished. after my mom died, daddy moved to Ohio near my sister. the house sold to the neighboring church. they were not good keepers. it fell into disrepair. and, yesterday, it happened. we knew it was coming. but, like she says, it's still a shock. part of my life lived in that house. my parent's dream home. now gone. sad.

talked with a dear friend who is battling cancer. she has finished her chemo regime. now possibly awaiting radiation. and they've discovered a new shadow on the scans. she's been through so much. she is strong. in faith. love. hope. I admire her so.

the hubs was cleared by his surgeon this week. still has to take it a bit easy. but all healed. bless him.

I am only a bystander in some things. a witness to life. so much going on around me I cannot control. inside me. however, I am raging. things to do. hands to hold. love lost. love to share. memories to hold onto. memories to make. hope to spread. joy to be had. such joy to be had.

'in this mob of I’s inside, which one is me? hear me out. I know I’m wandering, but don’t start putting a lid on this racket. no telling what I’ll do then. every moment I’m thrown by your story. one moment it’s happy, and I’m singing. one moment it’s sad, and I’m weeping. it turns bitter, and I pull away. but then you spill a little grace, and just like that, I’m all light. it’s not so bad, this arrangement, actually.'

Christmas break

I've been overwhelmed with Tour prep lately. still lots to do. plenty of time for the to-do list (she frets). but I thought I'd find another image to stare back at me in my diary. so a few of my favorite plants smile there now. these grace my kitchen. and simply make me happy.

'look at us, said the violets blooming at her feet. here we are to comfort you.'

quoting William

well. the floors are finished. the rooms are painted. my sweet neighbors are coming this weekend to help us move back into the downstairs. can't hardly wait.

the hubs continues to recuperate from surgery. poor guy. he's doing really well. thank You.

it's been a whirlwind. so hard to think that just last week we were in a frenzy. so happy to think all's well that ends well.

'think of all the beauty around you and be happy.'

Tuesday

sitting alone in the waiting room at the ER this morning. I cried. I prayed. my mind raced. I was a bit panicked. called back to his room to wait. I took a deep breath.

a few tests. a few long hours. a diagnosis later. we were home. tired. grateful. thankful.

the hubs tops my gratitude list. bless him. blessed me.

'why should I wish to see God better than this day? I see something of God each hour of the twenty-four, and each moment then, in the faces of men and women I see God, and in my own face in the glass, I find letters from God dropped in the street — and every one is signed by God's name and I leave them where they are, for I know that others will punctually come forever and ever.'

good Friday

staying busy today. starting another project. I should be finishing other started projects. but reasons abound. for starting. for not finishing.

this home tour business has been good. is good. has motivated us to do some things long past due. like company coming and I finally clean. I know I should do it all along. but (she reasons).

we're having a garage sale sometime soon. part of the 'treasures' will come from those 'stored' on the sleeping porch. a lovely little room that was open at one time, I suspect. when we bought the house I thought what a cute play room it would be for the grandkiddos. for the tour it will be staged like a play room. after (or as part of) the tour the hubs will take it over as a train room. not to be confused with his train garden. different trains (he could have worse habits she smiles).

so I'm writing while taking a break from the great clean-out. pulled up the carpeting that was covering the floors. to discover a pretty blue-gray paint. a bit worn. just the way I like it. this one will be simple (she hopes). paint the walls. seal the floor. arrange the stuff. easy-peasy (she dreams).

'I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday.'

.

jet lag

I'm feeling a bit worn out today. sluggish. got home from LA yesterday. those days. the day before we leave. the day of departure. the day after we arrive back. so very hard. emotionally. my eyes well with tears. my stomach lumps. my heart is heavy. just knowing that I have to leave. am about to go. am without them again.

the overwhelming-ness of it will pass. but the ache lingers.

so bear with me while I pity party. and get back into the steady hum of normal life. life is good. just a bit far away.

'I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.'

on the ottoman

picking colors. for a table in the center hallway (I have a thing for yellow these days - inspired from a vase that belonged to my mom). for the master bedroom. for the den. fun. agonizing (the table color is perplexing me). satisfying.

I've been in a bit of a frump the past few days. a little sad. weary. perhaps overwhelmed. last night I got a phone call that, when the conversation was done, I took two aspirin and went to bed. oh me. oh my. life does have its ups. downs.

I think the biggest issue is that life is usually. most consistently. up. very grateful for that. I guess when that is the biggest issue (I'm not complaining. sometimes it just feels good to say it out loud) - life is good. and it is.

the week will have a happy ending. headed to LA to see the babies. ages ranging from 1 - 31. definitely. definitely. an up.

'we are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. the trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.'

je parle un pue de français

I speak a bit of French. I wish I was fluent. at least conversational. I would love to sit in a café. overhear neighboring tables. and understand. just casual talk. a bit of chit chat. and every year during le Tour time, the feeling grows.

I am hopelessly involved with my Rosetta Stone tutorial. a vain effort. but I soldier on. always hopeful. I give up at times. but then go back. French is just one of those life goals. challenging (she fears). attainable (she sighs).

so here's to fulfilling our ambitions. and oddly. saying what we mean better. more beautifully. in any language.

'in French, you don't really say 'I miss you.' you say 'tu me manques,' which means 'you are missing from me.' I love that.'

baseball

a partial holding in season tickets for the Round Rock Express + the Iowa Cubs in town this (last) week = four days of baseball.

we are very fortunate to have a minor league club in our backyard. makes going to the games easy. fun.

people at the park are so very nice. friendly. the reason we have a share in season tickets is pure chance. two years ago we were sitting by a fellow and his wife and struck up a conversation. they were partial season ticket holders and a couple in their group were dropping out. by the end of the game we were invited to drop in. it didn't work out last year (as the drop outs decided not to). but for this season we had success. we went to the fellow and his wife's home for the lottery. they did a big bbq dinner (turns out it was the fellows birthday). their kids and grandkids were there. along with the other folks in the ticket share. we had a very nice evening. ate. drank. were merry. and got tickets to 12 games (which is the perfect amount. not too many. not too few.). four of the twelve were for the I-Cubs.

there is something quite wonderful about baseball. it is contagious. everyone is happy. cheering. clapping. booing. a camaraderie. just a lovely few hours. and sometimes a little dancing.

and then there's Spike. I love Spike.

'this is a game to be savored, not gulped. there's time to discuss everything between pitches or between innings.'

empty nesting

clearing out rooms in anticipation of work next week. the last of the carpet is going away (bedroom. center hall. den.). oh. so. happy.

took advantage of the clearing out process to sort through and clean out drawers and cabinets. I don't mean to be a hoarder. but it seems like I have an awful lot of saved stuff. treasures. maybe. crap. possibly. memories. definitely. some went. some stayed.

most of the floor work is being done by professionals. so glad for that. but we think we can do the stairs ourselves (she says optimistically). a. it seems fairly contained. b. it was almost twice as $$ for them to do the stairs as a regular large room. (I know labor intensive and all. but there are limits on my coin purse.) so wish us (me) luck. I did take out the carpet and old (disintegrating) padding and all those little tacks and staples. ack. looks better already.

I am eager to put the rooms back together. especially the center hallway. after almost 10 years living here. I'm still perplexed on this room. the space has always been a challenge for me. I've never been happy with its function or appearance. when we looked at the house the former owners had a grand piano there. it was a perfect location. but a. I don't have a grand piano. or b. plan to get one. so I have to sort through my many treasures and furniture items to see what may do. I have some ideas. and that is always dangerous. but fun.

and while the rooms are empty we're having some walls repaired and rooms painted. so fabric samples and paint chips are strewn about. I've narrowed it down to a few favorites. fresh. cozy. comfortable. pretty.

and in between the floors and the painting we're taking a trip to see the babies. grandson C is turning 3 (where did that time go)!

so busy. exhausted. satisfied.

'three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.'

forget me not

over the years we have collected many treasures. and, oh! the things that fill our attic.

this morning, the hubs pulled out a few pieces that have been waiting patiently (very, very patiently) for the right home. I had forgotten exactly what they looked like. and seeing them again. well. amazing!

now to rewire. hang. and enjoy.

happy (very, very happy) me.

'in the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.'

Monday Monday

had a productive weekend. satisfying. to-doing. movie-filled. francophiled. house-guested. enjoyable.

took care of the bane of my existence. the ceramic tile surrounding the den fireplace is now history. no pun intended. since the ugly inappropriate tile was never part of any history of this old house. it came off fairly easily. a bit of repair underneath to be done. and then onto a finished product (she says optimistically).

checked a few films off our watch list. some planned. some totally random (and one eligible for the 'worst movie ever' category). favorite: Nebraska. learned a lesson: Ender's Game (don't read a book before watching a movie. and ps Harrison Ford - what were you thinking taking on that role? totally miscast). worst: I, Frankenstein (I know what was I thinking?).

thoroughly enjoying my vicarious ride through France (even in the rain). oh Le Tour. I love you so.

Milo, the neighborhood cutie, spent the night. a totally adorable dog. he makes me smile.

the hubs is busy with projects. what a good guy. I love him so.

next on my list is emptying out three rooms in anticipation of refinishing the wood floors. can't hardly wait.

'the only thing that has to be finished by next Tuesday is next Monday.'

it is after all

had a great meeting last night with the neighbors about the Home Tour. the focus of the Tour is centered on our town's newest National Register Historic District and the five homes will be within the district. the beauty of the one street concept is that everyone can be involved. it gives the community a big bang. and it gives the neighbors a happy rally call.

we have a wonderful neighborhood. friendly. beautiful. as well as historic. every age. occupation. interest. and it's quite lovely that this event will be a celebration of friendship as well as heritage.

and last nights gathering proved it is indeed a small world. a new neighbor came by and as we were talking we discovered her husband and his brother and our daughter went to the same American School outside London - at the same time! I am continually amazed at the coincidences of life.

'Amor Fati – "Love Your Fate," which is in fact your life.'

hello Saturday

the hubs is back in town. hooray! I really don't mind a day here and there of solitude. but a week at a time (especially when it dips into the weekend) is a long time indeed. but there is good news to report. he has begun the trek to retirement. (even though last Monday [which was coincidentally the first official start day], he left for Vietnam. travelling 60 hours for a 30 minute presentation. go figure.) and in a mere 18 months he will finish his 39 year career with IBM! hooray! the upside of a week gone is a whole week of time off! hooray!
and today begins with another hooray! le Tour de France! I love the riders. the scenery. the commentary. the hoopla. the 21 days in France (and a bit in merry ole England).
and some fun working on new doors for the screen porch. upgraded to a sturdier model. painting today. and hopefully hung tomorrow. hooray!
and Saturdays around here always inlcude a bit of an outing. hooray!
love a day that starts so cheerfully!

'there are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate. '

on the ottoman

Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen. a sweet book that I read cover to cover in 24 hours. I don't know when the last time I did that. stayed up late to finish. enlightening. real. highly recommended.

yesterday held some great things. started on two projects long procrastinated. (and realized one will be a bit more than expected. oh well.) had an unexpected lunch with a friend. (a call out of the blue. the best kind.) treated myself to Greek food for dinner. (the hubs is away and I eat sporadically, at best.)

yes. a very good day indeed.

'the best things in life are nearest. then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.'

ps

yes. it’s Christmas in July. this is a gentle reminder to myself that the home tour is approaching. I am making lists and checking them twice. fun projects. tedious. necessary. overdue. simple. exciting.

I keep thinking that December is far away. but time flies. and I am a great procrastinator. and as of today. I hear the clock clearly. tick. tock.

‘the bad news is time flies. the good news is you’re the pilot.’

171 days & counting

if I seem a bit obsessed with home improvement projects lately. I am. the exciting news is that our home will be on the local historic home tour this Christmas. and I am excited. and obsessed. and pinning like crazy. and nervous. and making to-do lists. and de-cluttering. and re-cluttering.

I have ten million ideas. all changing daily.

the hubs is on high alert. and in usual form, very patient.

I may be calling on you. to calm me down. to pep me up. to go shopping with me. to listen to me whine. to give me wine. to help decorate. to help decide. to hold my hand.

truth is. I'm pretty thrilled at the prospect.

'she's got messy hair and a creative heart.'

today's subject

discovering a treasure on Craigslist. a glorious thing. figuring out what to do with it is a completely different matter.

I like to scroll through CL just to see what is out there. most times I find nothing. but sometimes. just sometimes. I come across an item that just haunts me. that nagging voice in my head that whispers 'buy me'.

I continue to work on my den. and while my house is not mcm. I seem to have this obsession to accent said room with the period. it all centers around a vase that was my mom's. that I love. and I am determined to use it.

we've found the perfect sofa. a bought-on-a-whim lampshade has found a perfect home. and this CL piece is such a perfect compliment to the room I can hardly stand it.

so what's the problem? the perfect compliment are two hanging fixtures.

today as I sit in the room. or pass by and glance in. I will struggle with this ever-so-important dilemma. this must-have issue. me oh my. a happy predicament.

'decorating golden rule: live with what you love.'

there and back again

home. sweet home.

had a lovely visit with my sister. I haven't seen her in a while. a long while. so it was nice to sit. chat. hug. be merry. I so miss that.

we took a day and drove down to visit our parents gravesite. a quiet spot on the Lost River in Shoals, Indiana. so very peaceful. along the way we sang out loud to the radio. drank McDonald's mocha frappes (I got her hooked). reminisced.

we were silly. serious. ate White Castle (I am proudly addicted). shopped. posted to FaceBook. got my grandnephew fix. caught up with nieces & nephews. just two sisters enjoying time together.

'bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart — oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape — of your sister.'

tomorrow

heading to Ohio for a visit with my sister. very long overdue. very much looking forward to it.

'how do people make it through life without a sister?'

road trip

to celebrate our 36th we took a bit of an outing in Evangeline (her first adventure). exploring the hill country. Kerrville. Ingram. Los Maples State Park. Bandera. just a big loop.

lots of green. canyons. maple trees (real trees!). cherry pie. beer. conversation. smiles.

it's amazing what a little time away does for the soul. the spirit. joy full.

'a good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.'

36

it rained. poured. the morning of our wedding. a good omen I was told. and indeed it was.

now 36 years. 2 children. 2 grandchildren. countless memories. a few tears. a ton of laughter. thousands of kisses and I love yous. later. we go on.

joyfully. contentedly. blessedly. happily. every after.

'our wedding was many years ago. the celebration continues to this day.'

happy mother's day

a bittersweet day.

I miss my mom. terribly. even after all these years of her being gone - I avoid the mother's day card section. I tear up at the very thought of them.

and as sad as those make me feel, I am so very happy when I see the sun shining in rays through the clouds. I know it is her (and daddy). I always say hello. it just seems like it is her way to let me know she is still watching over me with love.

crazy. maybe. content. absolutely.

'when I say I'm a mother I'm telling you I am blessed.'

just a note

I had a plan for today. a very ambitious one. many things on my to-do list. want-to-do list. and poof! ain't gonna happen. oh well.

so now I have a plan for tomorrow. and that is a good thing.

the hubs is out of town. so my schedule is pretty much my own. until someone calls and then my schedule is not. but I don't really mind. things can wait. it's a beautiful day (happy Earth day!). I'm lending a hand. our grandson turns one tomorrow (without us there. sigh. but soon.) there are happy plans for the weekend. and plans with friends in between.

things don't always go as scheduled. my way. your way. but life is pretty amazing. and shared. and joy full.


'I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.'

endless possibility

expect the unexpected. good things come to those who wait. patience is a virtue. all good things to remember. and this past week has shown me it is true. conversations lead to opportunities. casual visits open doors. even the odd text message brings hope.

it has been a good week. busy. productive. frustrating. fruitful. I'm afraid some things will never change. that is good and bad. but I'm focusing on the good. and the surprising way things seem to work out for the best.

Chatting at the Sky posted

'May I not despise small beginnings even if they lead only to small endings. When I seek to grasp for bigger and wider, may I remember how much I treasure smallness, simplicity, and soul space. If I begin to work hard to carve out a sense of myself, may I turn – again and again – toward the presence of God.

And may I ever remember that no one gets to tell me who I am except my Father. Any commentaries about my identity, either out there or in here, may I let them gently go.'

amen.

Sunday afternoon

it's a gloomy day in the great state. and oh so beautiful. been raining on and off from the wee hours of the morning. I love days like this when you can be a bum or ever so productive. I have chosen the middle road. I go between household chores. and sitting with my book. or my phone playing words with friends with my sister in Ohio. the hubs is doing the taxes and some work. and wanders down every now and then for moral support. and a kiss.

planning a week or two ahead. a trip to Dallas with a friend. our first baseball games with the local team. an odd assortment of work. play. volunteering. socializing. decision making. project tending. a lovely mix. really.

the teapot is whistling. calling my name. I must obey.

'the best kind of rain, of course, is a cozy rain.'

true blue

it's been a joyful week. joy full. a friend, recently diagnosed with colon cancer, received news that the cancer had not spread. she will start chemo soon. there is a long battle ahead. she is afraid. she is strong. beauty full. faith full.

her sister gave out bracelets to share and show our strength.

the words are supportive. rebellious. kind.

and as I see these words daily. I see my friend. I see God. and I am reminded. the importance of caring. kindness. faith. love. and the option to choose. fear or love, baby. I choose love.

'no one fights alone.'

don't forget the ps

I seem to be obsessing over my new room. but I get that way. anxious to finish it. content to let it just come together over time.

but while the hubs was away I was pulling out 'treasures' from the closet. things that I have accumulated to use at some point. and I came across a lampshade that I adore. let me repeat. adore. we bought it at the HD Buttercup clearance center (part of LA's greatest furniture/accessory store located in an repurposed bread factory. double heaven.) I was pretty sure it would be too big for the just relocated lamp (that I took out of our bedroom - there was a lot of shuffling going on). but I'd try anyway because I want to use it somewhere. and voila! perfect.

don't you just love the sensation of placing something and turning around to look at it and saying, smiling, yes. yes. yes.

ps love to all. happy valentines day!

'there are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction.'

dressed up

finally finished painting the den. the walls are clean and bright. but the Litchfield Gray is on the pink side. I'm trying to love it. but too pinkish. so we'll move onto the floors (pull up the horrible carpet and refinish the warm long leaf pine) and restore the fireplace surround (remove the ghastly inappropriate ceramic tile and either (hopefully) expose the original brick, or retile with era appropriate majolica tiles). and then see to a new paint color. I'm anxious to put the room back together even in its semi-finished state.

my little settee is back home. with a new dress. lovely vintage barkcloth. and simply adorable.

the house is ever so quiet this morning. the hubs is away for a few days. he left me with a kiss and a loving warning not to take out the carpet while he is gone. he knows me all too well.

'serious is a word that must be entirely avoided when it comes to decoration.'

daily message

I follow StoryPeople on FaceBook. artist Brian Andreas posts a story of the day along with a quirky image. his messages are potent. poignant. heartfelt. strong.

thank you. I need that today.

'he told me one time he forgot himself & his heart opened up like a door with a loose latch & he tried for days to put it all back in proper order but finally he gave up & left it all jumbled up there in a pile & loved everything equally.'

near misses

I count my blessings on a daily basis. and never so much as this week. for my family. my friends. my health. for the love that surrounds me. my faith.

I made a big decision recently to leave my job. still working but on an 'on-call' basis. the ability to set a schedule on my terms - seems selfish - but ever so necessary as life gets busy. busier. fuller. fullest.

the group I volunteer with is losing its staff person. she is going onto a wonderful new career and we/I am so very happy for her. but heartbroken at her departure. not only is she an amazing employee. but she is a kind and lovely person. I will miss not seeing her on a regular basis.

that announcement prompted me to make the decision about my own job. it has been very difficult to juggle all that I want (need) to do in my personal and volunteer life working (even part-time). so now I can work when they need me. as my schedule permits. a win-win for all. she says. but I am sad. I will miss not seeing everyone on a regular basis.

my so-called retirement is a happy predicament. the hubs and I want to do more. go more. be more. and this allows us to plan. a little project near & dear to our hearts. trips to California. trips for absolutely no reason at all but that we want to go. together. I missed not being able to spontaneous on a regular basis.

a very dear friend was just diagnosed with cancer. my heart fell at the news. I so regret not spending more time with her before the news. I do not plan on letting any more time slip by unattended. I will not miss another minute. (ps she had surgery yesterday and all reports are positive. prayers please.)

it is funny. odd. incredible. (she says with a sigh.) how life changes at a moments notice. such a domino effect. change is good. life is good.

'I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.'

la vie est belle

over the weekend the hubs and I did a little home improvement. been on the list for awhile. the arrival of a new sofa pushed us over the procrastination edge into doing.

we stripped the wallpaper in the den. and the 'it won't take long' project was a full two days. but now the dark stringcloth walls are a plain canvas. and the room is wonderfully bright.

I hadn't thought of it before but said hubs, 'now you have your Paris apartment.' and he was right. the white walls shown with that shabby plaster appeal. and with those wise words (he always knows the right thing to say) my decorating scheme for the room changed.

I had a clear definition of what the room would be. a picture in my head of exactly what I wanted. a bit mid-century modern combined with classic. but his comment and the discover of a chesterfield sofa on clearance have reduced that mental image to a memory.

seeing the room evolve is a journey. a rummage. a grand adventure.

'not all who wander are lost.'

tuesday

went to the dentist today. the bane of my existence. I don't like the dentist. it scares me. unnerves me. they have to give me gas to keep me in the chair. so they do. and I stay. and now it is over. thank goodness.

and my day was made brighter by running into a friend on the way home.

worked on some volunteer stuff.

sitting and reading. FanGirl by Rainbow Rowell. of Eleanor & Park fame. E & P was a favorite. all-time. FanGirl okay. but pales in comparison. but paired with a baggie of leftover m&m's and a cup of tea (TAZO focus.) and a bookmark that is my ticket stub from our Christmas trip. pure happiness. all is right in my world.

have some Society party planning to do later. and some paperwork to finish. and perhaps a nap to fit in there somewhere.

but for now back to chapter 23. enjoying the silence of the afternoon.

'some days, we just need to turn the quiet up.'

a few notes

on a gray gloomy day. as I start a busy agenda. I am in Heaven listening to Pandora through a new speaker.

I just carry the little box with me as I travel throughout the house. and Tommy Dorsey. the Andrew Sisters. and Frank follow me.

magic.

'life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.'