Saturday 29 April 2023

All Things Nice . . .

 

I love the blessed fragrance of the spring,
The smell of sod rising into the air,
Moist loam and furrows steaming in the sun,
Fragrant as lily buds . . . and everywhere
Little green noses pushing up the sod,
Like tiny scouts before a marching squad.

The lowlands have a fragrance of their own,
Of melted snow . . . wet twigs and drying boughs;
Warm hollows where the grass is faintly green,
The call of birds who follow after plows,
Wheeling and dipping in a maze of flight
From barn to field and back in sheer delight.

There is the odor or wild cherry bloom
Trilliums and dogwood . . . violets faintly sweet,
The taste of alders on the morning wind,
The earthy smell of newly sprouted wheat,
Old rotting logs . . . fresh willows in a clump
The smell of  moss by an old hickory stump.

The spongy odor or a nearby bog,
Bloodroot and wintergreen . . .  the scent of pine,
Stretching its eager limbs to find the sun
With every leaf and twig a weather sign;
Knowing all this if I were blind and dumb
I know  my heart would tell  me spring had come.
~Edna Jaques, Earth's Fragrance
The Hills of Home, 1946


There is something very wonderful about our sense of smell. It has the power to transport us through time to memories and things forgotten, but held within the recesses of our minds.  Smell memories are powerful ones. I remember when my oldest son was a baby, that first bottle of Gripe Water I bought . . .  as soon as I smelled it . . .  it was familiar to me.  Probably from my own infancy.  That's how powerful the sense of smell is.   

Every now and then I will catch a smell in the air and I am a teenager again, washing my hair in the basement sink, rubbing Princess Patricia hair conditioner into my long hair, or I am a small  child walking across  my grandmother's old linoleum floor to bury my face in the comfort of her warm, loving, and ample lap.



 



Cindy and I visited the cemetery earlier this week to change the flowers on  mom's headstone and clean up a bit.  There is one spot in the cemetery where our grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and great great great grandmother are buried, all within a few feet of each other.  Oh, our grandfather's are there as well, but for some reason they don't seem to matter as much to us. Funny that. 

Oh, we revere and love them for sure, we are just more inclined to remember our grandmother's. 

Perhaps that is because we are women?  This is something I read . . .

“Before we were conceived, we existed in part as an egg in our mother's ovary. All the eggs a woman will ever carry form in her ovaries while she is a four-month-old fetus in the womb of her mother. This means our cellular life as an egg begins in the womb of our grandmother."    


This might explain somewhat the connection we feel with our female ancestors.






Afterwards, we drove up the mountain to visit my great grandparent's old farm. It is largely derelict now.  At one time the house was white, but someone decided to paint it this rust color.  It is a bit sad to see it looking so rundown. We walked along the porch and tried to think of our mother sitting there. 





Mom always told the story of how she and her older sister Thelma  would sit in chairs on the porch, each with a piece of turnip and a spoon, looking down the mountain to the valley below, scraping the turnip with the spoon and eating the flesh. 
 



My mother was born in the upstairs bedroom towards the front end of the house (right hand). My grandmother was a midwife, as well as being a farmer's wife. Women wore many hats in those days and still do.




 

We walked around the grounds a bit, trying to figure out where the Orchard had been. It was very difficult to tell. A lot of the trees are dead and overgrown. The whole farm is neglected and only a ghost of what it once was.  My great grandfather had orchards, and pigs, cows, sheep, fields where he grew grain etc. and my great grandmother had a large kitchen garden to the rear of the house that she tended.

Mom always spoke of beautiful flower beds where the Easter bunny would hide their eggs.  It was hard to picture mom as a small girl walking around these same grounds as we were walking on the other day . . . 

There are supposedly two little girls buried at the far end of the property. We have wanted to go down and check it out, but we were afraid of being considered trespassers, which of course we are.





I found myself wishing that I had paid closer attention to, or taken notes when my mother had spoken of her life on the farm.   I know that whilst they had very little in the way of money, they had plenty to eat and drink.  Mom often talked about her pantaloons being sewn from old flour sacks and dyed blue. She also spoke of them separating the cream from the milk and lowering it down into the well to keep it cool, and lots of other stories like that.  


Oh what I wouldn't give to be able to hear the same stories again  . . . I like to think I would pay closer attention to them and remember them. 


 



As we walked around I imagined in my mind's eye my grandmother baking pies and setting them on the windowsills to cool . . .  I am sure it happened  . . .  




I also imagined my mother as a small child running through the grass, entertaining the dreams we all have as children. Carefree, with all of her life waiting to be lived ahead of her . . . 

Oh, if only those old walls could speak . . . 






Did you have a pair of these when you were a child. I did, but I think mine were in a lot nicer shape.  I can remember being very proud of them.  Somewhere I have a photograph of me wearing them. I must dig it out one day and scan it. 
 





The pussy willows have burst their seams and are becoming catkins now  . . .  I think that is what they are called. You can correct me if I am wrong.  Yesterday the groundmen for this housing development I live on were laying soil at the corners of each yard where they had dug them up with the snow plough during the winter months, and laying in grass seed.  Summer is on its way . . . 




 


My sister stopped by on her way home from work yesterday to help me fill out a form. While she was here she helped to cut my cat's claws. They are quite used to her doing it now. They don't create  much of a fuss.  Nutmeg even tucked his head into her arm. 

They will not cooperate with me. I imagine in time they might.  They really love her and are used to her. We have always called her the cat whisperer. Actually she is the animal whisperer.  Even when she was young she was the one bringing home birds with broken wings and field mice . . .   Oh how I love her.  I am so grateful that I am going to be able to spend the last years of my life living close to her.  It is an extra special blessing for sure.

We may have squabbled a bit when we were growing up, what siblings don't . . .  but we are the best of friends. It makes my father very happy to know that his children are all very close to each other and love each other the way that we all do. Not a day goes by but what we don't communicate with each other in some way.




At the end of the day, next to faith in God, this is what matters most.  I am so blessed to have the family that I do. I am always telling my older boys that their siblings are the only people in the world who really know and understand them because they are the only people in the world who share their beginnings and their roots . . .  they have a history with each other that they share with nobody else.


  
 



I have already had two visitors this morning as I have sat here typing. Earlier on Nutmeg was laying next to me, his head resting on my arm as I tap tapped away, purring and nuzzling me. It is a lovely feeling.  And then Cinnamon was snuggling underneath the blanket I have wrapped around my legs and she was just now sitting next to me on my desk,  meowing at me.  She has a tiny meow, almost like a squeak, but she doesn't mind telling me when she wants something. 

I am grateful for vocal cats who don't mind saying their piece and who love me. It is a mutual relationship because I love them too. They are my family also.

And with that I best leave you with a thought for the day. I am off out with my sister this morning to do  my father's shopping. I am looking forward to that!

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
  ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
 ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*Don't save things for a special occasion.
Every day of your life is a special occasion.
~Thomas S Monson  •。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。 





In The English Kitchen today . . .  delicious Queen Anne Squares. Fit for a royal celebration!

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday filled with things and people you love. Whatever you get up to, don't forget! 

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
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And I do too!    

   

Friday 28 April 2023

My Friday Finds . . .

 


A few of the things I find each week that inspire me to want to do better, to create, to become better, to read more, to watch, to just DO something! Things that delight, inspire, and bring me joy.  Maybe they will do the same thing for you!  




 Thirty One Things you can freeze to save time and Money.  Found and Featured.





From JooJoo, the most adorable little snails, made from air drying clay.  Probably painted with acrylics.





Free Printable Colouring pages.   I love LOVE colouring.  Found on Dabbles and Babbles.





These handprint Tissue Paper Flowers are so cute and something to do with the children for Mother's Day.   Found on  Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body.




This is so cute.  It's a Fox Puppet made from toilet paper rolls, string and bottle caps.   I found it here. It's a pictorial tutorial.





How to turn children's art into fun tea towels!  Brilliant idea.   Found on Setting For Four.




I've done knitted ones.   These ones are crochet.   Crochet Dishcloths.  Simple.   From Little House Living.





Christmas Snowflakes using the bottoms of plastic water and soda pop bottles.   And a bit of paint.  Found on Artesan.





From All Things Katie,  frozen smoothie packs.  If you are into smoothies, this could be a real time and money saver for you.   She made 57 smoothies at the cost of approximately $1.30 each.  Not bad.





These Baby Bibs are A D O R A B L E.  I just think they are the sweetest.   Found on Sleep Like a Peach.




Creative Window Treatments.   Some of these are really nice.   From Up To Date Interiors.




Spring in a Mason Jar. Some really cute ideas from Yesterday on Tuesday.





Do It Yourself Teacup Candles from The Wedding Chicks.   I love this idea!  I just love the cup and saucer as well.


 



How to Make Curtains from Two Twenty One.  This kind of thing always comes in handy.  Or at least think it does.  I love this blog.  There is always something interesting or informative on it.





Step by step instructions for making your own Succulent Garden!  I have always wanted to do this.  I love Succulents.  Found on Bright, Bold and Beautiful





This is pretty useful.   It can sometimes be so hard to pick out fabrics online that will go together.  This gal gives some really great advice.  Found on  Rain on a Tin Roof.





How to Clean the Glass on your Oven door in Minutes.   (Mine has never been that dirty!)  It can be really hard to clean the glass on your oven door, especially if you have let it get really mucky.   From DIY Home Sweet Home.





What a simple idea and yet so effective!  Use a curtain rod inside your cupboard doors to hold the lids to your pots and pans.  I love it!  From Instructables.





I just love this sampler afghan.  Perhaps not the colours.  I think I would do it in brighter colours.  It might be a great way to get rid of some yarn.  Found On Ravelry.




I love the idea of a small bowl of stones that are inspiring.   You could do them one at a time as the spirit inspires.   Very meaningful.   Found on Home and Garden.





New edges for old blankets.  I love these.   They're so pretty.   From Flickr. 

I need some good wool blankets for on my bed in the winter.  The flimsy ones I have just don't cut it. I've been prowling second hand sights.  No rush at the moment as spring and summer are now here.


And those are my Friday Finds for this week. I hope you found something of interest here!


A thought to carry with you  . . . 


° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
  ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
 ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*Kind words can be short
and easy to speak,
but their echoes are truly endless.
~Mother Teresa•。★★ 。*  





In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Macaroni Cheese Tomato Bake for two. This is an old favorite that I really love. I had not made it in a long time.  I decided to cut the recipe in half and downsize it.  Delicious. I really enjoyed it. I need to do that with a few more things I am missing eating!

I enjoyed my time spent with Eileen and Tim yesterday. Tim is going away with his mother to visit his brother in  July I think. I will have Eileen here with me while he is gone.  Some girl time is in order. We just went to the Big Scoop for lunch.  It was okay. We came back here for Pie.  And then I went to my sister's for homemade pizza for supper, so a very busy day all round! Busy is good. I like busy.

I hope that you have a lovely day. It looks to be a dry and mix of cloud and sunshine here.  Warmish as well.   Whatever you get up to, don't forget!

 ═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════   
  


And I do too!    

   

Thursday 27 April 2023

My Favorite Things . . .

 




A few of the things that make me smile, bring happiness and joy, and make my heart go pitter pat. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I say its worth a thousand smiles. 


 

Anything to do with bees. Isn't this just darling? 


 


Dutch Doors. I love Dutch Doors, but can you see the robin there?  My heart melts.   Hello little robin!


 


Yes please. I think every great garden should have a secret place that delights the finder.  At the Manor it was tucked away behind the tall hedge that was trimmed to look like castle walls. Secret gardens are magical.


 


Shaped cookie cutters  . . . I shall have to build my collection up again methinks!


 


Candles in windows  . . .  beacons of welcome.


 


Milk in glass bottles  . . . I wish the dairies would go back to them.


 

A cat bed  . . .  so cute . . . 


 


Multi-colored poppies. So pretty! 


 


This window  . . . 


 

Little ponds shaped like hearts  . . . 


 

(source


You just know I love, Love, LOVE!


 


A mouse house.  Did you watch Chez Helene when you were young?  I used to love it when they went inside Susie's mousehole.


 



Embroidered linens  . . . 


 

Full Moons and their names  . . .


 

Totally adorable  . . . 


 

So very pretty  . . . 


 

Shopping Hedgehogs  . . . 


 

Stone bridges  .  .  .


 

Dove cotes  . . . 


 

Rings  . . .  such a pretty collection  . . .  


And those are my favorite things for today  . . .  I hope some of them were your favorite things also!


A thought to carry with you  . . . 


° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
  ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
 ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★
*A book is a present you can open
again and again  . . . •。★★ 。* 。


 


  

In the English Kitchen today . . .  Copycat Waffle House Waffles.  I have never been to the Waffle House, but I can tell you these are mighty good waffles!


I hope you have a lovely day filled with lovely things and some of your favorite things also!  Along the way, don't forget! 


═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════   
  


And I do too!