Friday, July 30, 2010

Colors Of Mother Nature


We all can take lessons from Mother Nature herself.... If you notice nothing Mother Nature does matches but they blend together in such a beautiful way... So why not think about it and do what she does... I love the colors of the soils ... I have always love the smell of the earth when freshly plowed and being turned over... The colors of browns, caramels blended with creamy whites are perfection in my eyes.Maybe simply stated but oh so lovely. Then the blend of textures in these shades such as laces to burlap's and heavy textures melts me just like caramel.. All these mixed together with collections of crazing ironstone or aged silver turns my head and creates layers of loveliness. While working with Mother Nature don't forget the rules of three. I do think to have the home... oh so charming feel it has to appear it has been there forever.... I have entered many very lovely new homes.... very, very, lovely but for myself personally it doesn't have the feel I love... When we looked at condos awhile back the were quite nice but all new and not with a feel they had been loved forever... With the help of Mother Natures beauty, I could most likely achieve it by faux painting, aging, and veining... Mother Nature herself ages objects to the touches I love....

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Limiting One's Self

The past several months I have been limiting myself on magazines.... due to staying on budget and mainly due to not enjoying the magazine as much as I had in the past... I have not re-newed my Romantic Homes subscription as I have found dis-appointment in the last couple years... I did this morning however re-new my Romantic Country... I have found although so expensive I enjoy my Jeanne d Ark Magazine { although to me more like a book} brings me pleasure as I sift through the lovely pages... I look to magazines for inspiration and when filled with things I would not do.. I lose interest... Looking for ideas and budget friendly I believe to be in most of our agendas... It makes a difference as I love, love, love, the true french grain sacks but they are not budget friendly so I have used gifted ones many areas of my home to give me the same appeal and it has worked... Somehow to satisfy your longing and mine have to speak just some romance... We received a gentle rain last evening and it has cooled our temps off to very enjoyable... I am doing chores of which I have to say farewell and get back to and hopefully this afternoon I can create some altered art... I also need another 5th Wedding Anniversary card for this Saturday and opps... I think I best get going as I need time for the glue to dry.... Wishes to all of you for a lovely and very pleasant day.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Glam of a Era Past




Oh my golly goodness gosh... the heat and humidity is back on... I made a trip to Defiance this morning... I needed small freezer bags as Tom wants to finish stripping the sweet corn patch and place the abundance left from sharing with friends into the freezer for winter use... While in town I have been very good but decided to make a trip to Fort Defiance Antiques and visit Deanna that owns the shop along with her husband... She is always very generous and reduces objects I may have interest in...
I have already posted in the past I will be restricting my buying to just a few objects... Antique beaded purses and perfume bottle of beauty... unless it is something I can use with my love of doing altered art.... I also purchased the sweet antique photo to work into altered art... It is rather lovely to have something different to look at and enjoy once in awhile when it is your passion... I will place a small tag on it so my daughter will know the value in case something would happen to me I wouldn't want it to be on a dollar table at a garage sale.... Having lovely objects with touches of glam from the past makes it wonderful to assemble eye catching bling in vignettes with these precious finds. Rearranging for ones self and creating for friends in charming ways are threads of success...

Monday, July 26, 2010

Personality

Nothing adds inspiration and personality as the collections we add to our homes... Hand sewn speciality pillows.... I love all the grain sack pillows that are being shown.... For my readers and personal friends you know it is antique and vintage for my spaces... Very few times will you see a addition of something new.... It is deeply satisfying to find new uses for old items... I know many of you share this same passion... Choosing objects you just love alone usually works in making displays work... Of course staying in the same color line helps... There is not a thing like sharing space with the timeworn added to a touch of glam... A home needs to be comfortable, but needs the unexpected also... to add the touches of personality you would like to achieve... Having touches of preparations of canned goods such as jams and colorful vegetables always adds eye candy and a warm feel to a country style kitchen... and wets the appetite... I especially love taking the farm setting to looking like a feast... I would also like to give thanks that we received rains that were needed to be able to produce these products for preserving... The temps eased yesterday and will for another day but Wednesday will be back in the 90's again... I am enjoying today as I do my Monday chores.... Yesterday Tom and I went to Michigan to a Casino for the afternoon and a ride through the countryside... Upon returning home Tom had a much thicker pocket than just the jingle of pocket change.... Gee do you think he had a smile on his face?????
Sending best wishes for a lovely week to all of you.... I must get the laundry transferred and travel out of doors to the cleaning of the pool... Still having problems with the water and have came to the ending it is not a good year for it... The heat is on and that would normally be good for pool but it is what is causing the problems... Sometimes things just aren't perfect so we do the best we can and travel on....

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Wisdom Of Duty

We received much needed rain in our evening and night time hours last night... I was just checking the weather on my computer a few minutes ago and we may have more on it's way this afternoon... It is very hot and humid and I just returned from the sweet corn patch to where I picked from the ends and needed a towel to wipe my brow... The ears are all cleaned and washed and await the kettle for cooking for our lunch... I am serving a taco with fresh garden trimming for it to accompany the sweet corn...
I know many do not like to cook but I consider it a complete blessing to have a home with a nice kitchen to prepare nourishment for us.. Many hours are spent there.. Preparing sweet corn is a wonderful tradition of the past.. I loved it as a child and I love it more today... Delightful and sweet....
Food preparation is thoughtful and will remain in the hearts and minds of our families forever... My oldest son stopped yesterday and shared lunch with us... He made the comment he had just told others the day before how much he misses the daily cooking I prepared for them when younger... He does stop by now and then and share and is always welcomed... I have always considered it my duty but also enjoyment to prepare meals and bake wonderful treats... Of course the wisdom of this duty was implanted by my mother and grandmother when I was young... and of course it grew and flourished as I become a adult... I must admit I believe some of our young children are not receiving the wonderful meals offered to us in the past... The family event of sitting and sharing nourishment and conversation is very much needed and lacking in many families... Attending sporting events I see so many children stuffing JUNK from the concession stand down their tummies it makes me think this is so bad and so not budget friendly... Being selective is a must and better planning in how we approach this meal time is much needed... A woman's heritage reflect influences from the past and also our children's future.. In stilling this wisdom of duty implanted from mothers years ago need to once again be placed into action... Remember, nourishment of family through food and mind is the very best we can offer as a parent... Arrange your weeks so you can offer this wonderful gift to others....

Friday, July 23, 2010

Brief Moments

Oh my for brief moments once again thoughts of condo living sweep through my mind... Thoughts of leaving a place where many teas and beverage have been shared with family and friends have taken place.... We have friends that just placed their sweet little home on the market in hopes for a condo... Their are these brief moments it crosses my mind on a 90 degree day like today will be, and the pool water is green and all seems to be somewhat bigger than me... but reality soon comes right back and I think I will never have a yard of my own again without being under the eye of someone at close range... Making a move to town, loosing the advantage of a charmed, quiet, peaceful life in a cozy retreat would be taking place... Loosing green acres... where simple pleasures always await... Home Sweet Home... We did in the past look at several condos and when indoors it was just lovely.... for many life is still at a hectic pace and for me it has slowed down along with the economy... I have walked to our little garden patch for a couple weeks now... harvesting green beans , tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet corn of which has been included in our daily meals and shared with friends and family... all this would certainly be missed... To live in a condo you would pay a owners fee and follow rules that do not apply in the country lifestyle... When thinking through the fees we could easy pay someone to maintain the yards and snow removal for still a much cheaper rate.... This is a very big decision as you travel in your journey of life and some days ideas just bobble around in our heads... The idea of something new is always entertaining until we realize it would be like leaving your best freind that has embraced you and provided you shelter from the elements for many years... We learn to delight in our comfortable settings almost 100 percent of the time but there always seems to be a moment or so sneak in..when we think what if.. The idea of leaving the country home for me is like loosing my grandmother all over again... I would love to have her back one more day and just spend time with her wisdom and bake those luscious pies with her once again... Traditions and dreams have been supplied here and certainly will not be forgotten by little ones... They will remember every corner of this place where we dwell and call home... Makes me wonder why we ever come up wit one little urge to think of leaving... I do believe it may be the fact when you retire or become this age you see so many things changing, your slowing down, and many of us are losing family and friends and this makes us panic and uneasy somewhat... Our lives are ever revolving as changes surround us.. Life becomes a treasure hunt of sorts but when reality steps in there is nothing better than tradition, the tradition of family and home... Be content today and enjoy all the lovely things you have created and that surround you...
ps... our weather forecast is very hot and now they have a tornado and thunderstorm watch issued... Last evening rain was in surrounding towns but we got not a drop....Prayers all will be safe today although I would love to see about a inch or so of a gentle rain..... notice I said gentle......

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Just To Have A Grin On Your Face

The sweet little girl in the above photo will have to learn through living her life that we must find a way to adjust our life so we may carry a grin on our face every once in awhile....I am finding it necessary for my personal being to develop some what of a routine and keeping a rather clear agenda.... Knowing I do not like to obligate myself as I had done in the past for survival..... My mind and body seem to want to ease into a more gentle pace... Everyday chores of housework and preparing meals seem to be a plenty in making my inner efforts fall into place... I require time for myself to just do nothing if I desire... Just to peer out the window and watch the world that surrounds me seems to be rewarding...All this allows me to break my routine as desired to not limit growth...Learning to slow down is almost like the process of learning to walk all over again.... Taking the time to add blissful moments in our life's... and to be ever so grateful is a valued lesson to achieve.... When we learn to walk in this direction we become better and better at doing it... Just think of having a grin on your face from time to time for no reason at all... just because we have learned to walk free from anger,worry, and most of all negative thinking... We don't have to apologize to anyone for it.... don't have to gloat.... but just plain enjoy it.... And just keep smiling... we have to accept that there are going to be some awful things happen in life but it is a part of life itself..... This is where I am in my life ....... Positive thinking and understanding and taking the time to walk through it... The earlier we develop this in life the more we simplify our life's.... so hope you notice a smile on your face in the next coming days and weeks.....

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Things Change

As the years pass I have found many things are changing... I am the most relaxed at home as I have stated numerous times... I know others may experience this also. I seem to become somewhat dis-functional when I am in the company of large crowds and loud noises. For the last couple weeks I have been thrown into these arrangements and find myself a peaceful shelter of sorts... So many people talking or yelling all at the same time, music loud , along with all, and my mind just looses it focus... When talking to others , you just shake your head and agree, because you don't have a clue what they are saying.... Oh dear, it does become a confused state for me.... I have worsened dealing with this since my heart attack and I usually just and up going to the car... and find myself longing for home... I often wonder if some don't think of me as becoming stuffy but they don't know what I am experiencing... When I am in the company of two or three people I do much better and can be quite chatty.....I have also stated in the past I find I can write much better than I can talk... I am sure this crowd thing has much to do with it...I have always loved writing things down and letting out my inner most thoughts since I was a teen... For me writing it down is releasing it and I think this is good... Maybe also becomes a way of sharing... Many time I think we react to our childhood and with age these things become more prominent.... We all were raised in different ways and family beliefs and we portray them more with age... Someone I may consider a bit strange may not be strange in their world at all... Through understanding of what is going on inside the person... Caring and understanding become very important words in everyday life... Family, friends, and people we come across in everyday life. As I recall back many years ago I lived for the record hops and being surrounded by crowds... Yes, things are changing.....

Monday, July 19, 2010

Musings


A later post today ... I cleaned house this morning and also washed windows in the front as we received a short storm yesterday afternoon with allot of wind... Only about 3/10 's of rain but more than just down the road a mile received however...
I finished a small memo board to be used for my daughters birthday card... Starla's birthday is tomorrow and I wanted a special opportunity to write to her how very proud I am of here as she is getting near completing her education to be a RN... I know it has been a hard struggle for her but I believe she will achieve her dream of helping others.... I wrote what I wanted her to hear and tucked a little gift of money in a small envelope to tuck in the memo board... instead of a traditional card... Many years past all the presents were kept small as back in my days cake and ice cream and family was your celebration and I wouldn't change that for the world..... Giving of ones self is what we need to be teaching our children of today who expect a big red bow tied around their new car they receive for their birthday.... Do you have someone in your family that you are especially proud of ???? Just a small note of inspiration today to encourage you to let that special someone know how you feel..... We tend to put those things off and they are ever so important.... More than the wrapped present... Blessings.....

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Enjoying Summer????

Photo from Country Living...

Oh my, what I post seems to be so fickle... this spring we has rain after rain delaying the farmers from their planting... now the weather has changed to excess heat and dryness. I don't take the heat well, and I have to sadly admit I am not enjoying summer right now... I am trying to stay positive but seem to be caving in..
I gathered some sweet corn of which we seem to be sharing with critters, most likely coon... Finding ears laying on ground stripped back... At least this one eats the whole ear... At least a couple years ago we have several and they would strip about 20 or so a night and just tear them down and take a bite and leave lay....This years critter seems to be more budget friendly....
Oh my and another thing we have right now is giant horse flies... Everywhere... I have been bitten a couple times already... They hit my large picture window in the front of my house and makes you glad you are in the confines of your home... When you go away in your car they attack the car... When you pull up to stop sign they dive bomb the car in armies of them... They usually are here for 2 to 3 weeks but I am afraid it will be longer with the extreme heat...
We seem to be having trouble with the pool water again... It has been vacuumed 3 times this week and we are still loosing it... Will have to run a sample to the pool place again... All chemicals have been added... I am wondering if once again it doesn't have allot to do with the extreme heat... Getting the picture of why I am not so keen on summer right now....??????
The one good thing I can be thankful for is the garden that is producing us food.... I just took country style spare ribs from the oven from baking till tender... I always boil or bake my ribs before continuing to the outdoor grill to be placed on a heavy foil sprayed with cooking spray before adding ribs and BBQ sauce...... Tonight's supper will be... of course the BBQ ribs... corn on the cob, baked potato, sliced cucumbers in sweet and sour vinegar, grilled sour dough bread and cherry pie..... The supper will be a good old summer time one but the actual summertime itself is a bit trying for us whom don't enjoy the extreme heat.....


Friday, July 16, 2010

Bigger Than You ?????

Do you ever have those days when things just seem bigger than you??? In addition to try and figure out what your priorities are... it is more important to figure out what you don't want in your life... Rid of that clutter in our life's.. mental, emotional and psychological... Clutter includes doing things we don't want to do... Realistically we all know we have everyday chores we cannot rid of but many times we need to rid of commitments when causing personal stress. It would be a good thing to sit and make a list of things we think are getting in the way of our happiness. This may help regretting our past, fidgeting now, or worry of what lies ahead... I think it becomes possible to rid of them when we are more aware of them. We need to take responsibility for ourselves... Not happy... make changes.... I have posted many times before on making our homes our quiet space...

Be smart... go to bed early and rise with the sun... Experience a new day, free of the unwanted clutter. Prepare lovely and nutritious meals for ones self and others to enjoy... but do expect help from others with the clean up so all can have time to enjoy more... I believe this knowledge comes with age but it sure would be a fine thing if we learn it sooner... Please stop and consider things to make life more pleasurable. I know you will be ever so glad you did... Enjoy today.....

Pleasures

What is it that brings you pleasures in collecting? For many years I just loved many, many lovely objects... I found myself drawn to lovely objects of the past.. China with stunning pink roses, mainly plates and sugar and creamers... Now that I realize I have more than many pieces for a charming setting if a guest or two arrive for a special outing... I may swoon but I don't buy... I have bargained with myself and have come to the conclusion I will buy papers and junk jewelry for creating altered art... I will still buy a lovely beaded purse once or twice a year to add to my collection... a lovely perfume bottle and possibly a lovely jar or glass cloche... If I allow myself to purchase the pleasures once in awhile it will secure the fix I need for the love of timeworn... Since I do love these objects ... I feel once in a blue moon would be ok... I am focusing on the gift of everyday life as my most valued possession..... Once in awhile we have to treat ourselves or we do fall into a slump... It becomes wonderful when we realize family and friends are far more creative and important that sitting in front of a TV... Beautifying our homes to share only brings the pleasures stronger.
A cottage like coziness makes for wonderful pleasures for all. I tried very hard this spring to plant lovely welcoming flowers and plants and at this time period find myself rather disappointed with the results. The excess heat of the summer has been very hard on them and oh no to mention the bunnies have chomped them down to bits... Yesterday I found my springri plant chomped... my goodness this plant has thorns in it... Lot of the time they just snap it off and let them lay... Other insects have started in also so I guess all this is beyond my control... I look at the different varies of grasses we have planted and not much seems to bother them so maybe a few more of those next year will be of choice... and let the elements be what they are and not fret over it... The flowers will die when Jack Frost comes to visit anyway so ..... thoughts of things more romantic shall become in my mind... I need to remember life as a picnic... and to be enjoyed... not in stressed out mode...
I think most positive we all need to let our homes be our dream destination. Sometimes we desire too much. Making decisions to have our homes bring our pleasures just can't be a miss. My heart sinks when I think or hear of others whom have lost their homes for some sort of reason... In my world my home is h biggest part of life... The gentle spaces of comfort when we are tired and hungry ... There is little other feeling that compares to having a lovely home surround you.... so making this the center of your life makes sense to me... Adding lovely objects of pleasure just makes it all complete...
Hope you all have a wonderful day and get time to enjoy your home... As the heat is once again suppose to swell the next few days I will be looking for the shelter of my home to keep me comfortable.....

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Things Have Heated Up......


As the temps rise I am seeking items of interest in my Jeanne d Ark magazine and other inspiration on the computer... Though this blogging it doesn't hurt to brag just a little but, now if I could find something to brag about.... Sometimes we become rather stuck for ideas... Creativity always makes for excitement... but when I am melted like chocolate in a pan I am not very creative... Just the making of meals seems to be a real task...
I did muster out creating a card for a 50th anniversary celebration we plan to attend on Saturday..
Then I managed a large kettle of green beans and bacon for our supper tonight...
Plans for later are including taking a trip to Bryan about 7:15 for a ACME baseball game at 8:00...... Should be able to consider spending some time out of doors by then if we are not affected b the severe storm warning the weather channel has issued for our area a short time ago.. Next few days are not to be pleasant for those whom do not enjoy the extreme heat... ME... I have to take extra care that I don't become too crabby ... a bit like Maxine.....

Ramblings

Back home again... Not any richer in coins... but the true riches being able to get away with friends for a couple days... without the chores of cooking and everyday chores were nice... But... I am home again and yesterday was 3 loads of laundry... making a trip to town for groceries to get the household up and running again... I baked some old fashion molasses cookies for the adult cookie monster that resides here... the garden is also producing .... a large jar of sliced cucumbers in sweet and sour vinegar was prepared yesterday and sweet corn was eaten for supper last evening.... Today I have a kettle of green beans and bacon to be placed on to cook..... I have some house cleaning to complete and a heat advisory is in effect for our area today..... I am off to complete some chores before this effect is felt... Will be stopping by to visit many of you this afternoon ..... but for now I am off to still play catch up... Blessings.....

Friday, July 9, 2010

A Perfect Evening



















































While visiting one of my favorite blogs... Melaine of http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/ posted a site http://ginger-ella.tumblr.com/ from which I planned a perfect evening in my thoughts... I entered through these lovely gates... taken a relaxing bath filled with lovely scented oils.... relaxed on the porch.... went to the kitchen to put the kettle on for water to make a cup of tea..... while in the kitchen sliced myself a piece of cake..... headed up the stairs to the bedroom......ahhhh... retirement........sweet dreams.....
Ps. I will be taking a few days off... See you toward the middle of next week.... Blessings....









Green Paper Challenge

Last evening the baseball tournament was postponed due to storms so I decided I would enter the Challenge with Mary at http://greenpaper.typepad.com
The challenge is open through July 14 so you have time to spend some time creating and enter the challenge....creating with her lovely paper and images... I simply created a top a vintage box that once held hosiery... creating a little box for treasures for storing or a small gift to someone....

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Savoring Personal Pleasures

Once again found myself on the golf course making my match for this coming Tues. up in the extreme heat... I jumped in the pool upon my return home... I just placed a kettle of picked green beans from our garden on to cook with a pound of chopped fried bacon for our supper... will whip up some potatoes after a bit... and grill some buttered french bread...
The skies are looking like we could get some rain as the hazy and hot continues....
My body is telling me to slow down and I need to listen to it... My doctor has warned me of that... I was going to try to work on a couple loads of laundry and a few more chores this afternoon but..... my body is called for me to lay down for a period... My mind confuses my body as it says "yes, you can" and the body says " oh no, I'm not going there".. I guess naps are a part of savoring summer living... I am learning to not feel so bad when I have to do this ..... In my younger years I would just keep going... If I am rested maybe my mind will release some inner creativity.
My personal life... I don't have allot of excess baggage as many seem to... My life is kinda a open book for all to read.. I know who I am and I am willing to share that with others... Life is a bit like decorating... we have to use what is available to us... and maybe not try measuring up with others.. Just enjoy what we have.. I guess you can say I am a natural... My hair has been let go to the grey and I am very comfortable with that... and I do not wear make-up but boy do I love to soak in bath oils and run on body cremes... and just savor my time at home.....

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Wedding Weekend








I am taking a short break as I am trying to beat the heat getting chores done around the house....I am about to turn the AC on as the hot and sticky has arrived... My daughter just called on her way to Toledo to classes on her last year to becoming a RN.... She told me she just talked to me from Pioneer, Ohio to Toledo, Ohio and thought she had full filled her visiting duty for the day... She's a toot...
Saturday of this weekend we will be attending a wedding in Findlay, Ohio for Tom's nephew....Greg... He is home from Tennessee today and course Tom and him are off golfing this morning spending time together... Tom has himself quite occupied this week.... about every moment taken up... This evening we will stop at the Elks for the monthly drawing at 7:30 and then attend the Tinora Baseball tournament at 8:00 which is just down the road from the Elks in Defiance... Sunday we will leave for a few days as I posted earlier....
I shared some lovely pics from http://weepingcherries.wordpress.com site... She has some lovely ideas if you want to stop by... I just love the use of canning jars...{the one pic the bride and groom had family and guest send pictures of their weddings and they used them for centerpieces... cute idea... and very budget friendly...}
I am off to finish chores and finish some altered art cards and I have to run one card to the post office for we will also miss a wedding in Defiance we really would like to be at... Don't ya just hate it when that happens????? Have a pleasant day and I am hoping the forecast is right that we are to have some relief from the heat this weekend.... Blessings