good morning

the weather has been unpredictable here in the great state. but there is beauty in that. and one little poppy at my curbside gate thinks it's time to shine. bloom. glow.

how glorious.

'the flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.'

please & thank you

the rule in my house is that appliances are acceptable as gifts (birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, et al) only when requested. and during the 2011 holiday exchange I received two much wanted and asked for items.

a dust buster. in all honesty, I didn't even know if they still made dustbusters. but to my delight the hubs placed one perfectly wrapped under the tree. I was thrilled. and I use it every day. with much gratitude.

a blender. I have had several blenders in my lifetime. but never one that would actually do a satisfactory job. during my stay while darling daughter was on bedrest we made smoothies. so I asked her for a blender like that. and voila! delivered.

now I have plenty of dust to bust. bunnies. crumbs. and the like. but I have yet to break out the blender. until tomorrow. when I will try this delicious concoction found on whoorlie. green is not my favorite color for a drink. but the ingredients and her raving reviews make it ever so tempting.

looking forward to the taste test. will keep you posted.

'life is trying things to see if they work.'

seconds

(image courtesy Joss & Main)

feeling a little fiesty (thus two posts - and maybe more - in one day). but ever so polite.

'what you allow, you encourage.'

worth mentioning

isn't it beautiful how we can make each other happy. this crazy world of unknown people sharing personal life altering moments. simple. wholesome. poignant.

that is what I found this morning as I read Cause & Effect at Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. Ree Drummond's (honest. witty. entertaining. exuberant. funny. heartfelt. Kleenex at the ready for tears of joy and sorrow) account of her life. adventures of a mom. wife. cook. woman.

it just made me smile. and say thanks. and take a deep breath and exhale. and say life is good. really. so very good.

'if you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.'

the beat goes on

looking for a little inspiration today. from friends. from family. but mostly from inside myself. my to-do list has shrunk a bit, those easily attainable, achieveable things crossed off. but I should add motivation to my agenda. it is sorely lacking.

I am hurting a bit. some a self pity party. some for a friend. some for a family member. I have been talking to Him quite a bit these days. sorting through. weeding out. seeking. searching. asking. thanking. I get still. and think. and know. and wait. for good things to come. but I know that I cannot simply ask and receive. patience and focus and grace is the answer for me. but alas I am impatient. and unfocused. and all for saving grace. so I continue. one day to another. and wish. and hope. and pray. for guidance. for wisdom. for clarity.

I have a meeting tonight that I hope will give me some of those things. directly. indirectly. a meeting of creative minds. artists. doers. believers. the power of positive thinkers. I want that song stuck in my head.

'God respects me when I work; but God loves me when I sing.'

before

while I wait for my chalkboard paint to dry, another project is taking place at magnolia's end. my garden is undergoing a transformation. I hired a yard guy do the back-breaking work. tear out all the old tired plantings. unearth roots from long ago shrubs and never ending tendrils of spotty ground cover. expand the beds. repurpose old concrete walks.

and then. then. then. I can plant. play. play. play.

I am giddy with excitment!

yes. downright giddy.

my front garden is plain and uninviting. oh so boring and bland. no compliment whatsoever to the house. and they are long overdue to sing in harmony. beds brimming with (climate appropriate) cottage style. brick and stone paths. a little place to sit and chat and wine.

the planning. the purchase. the planting. every step delightful.














'anticipation is making me wait.'

in progress

it's project day around my house. and checking off my to-do list is my chalkboard wall. just finished the first coat and I am totally in love with the way it looks. but as with all good things (that come to those who wait) I must endure three days before I can write my first word.

but patience is a virture. and going from this ...












to this ...


















is very exciting.

'poured a cup of hot sepia coffee in a wisteria flowered mug, dandelion sunshine spilling through the periwinkle sky.'