Home, home . . . sweet, sweet, home . . .

 

Neuschweinstein Castle, Germany

By Daniel Weissenhorn 

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home
A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there
Which seek thro' the world, is ne'er met elsewhere
Home! Home!
Sweet, sweet home!
There's no place like home
There's no place like home!

An exile from home splendor dazzles in vain
Oh give me my lowly thatched cottage again
The birds singing gaily that came at my call
And gave me the peace of mind dearer than all
Home, home, sweet, sweet home
There's no place like home, there's no place like home! 

~John Howard Payne

 What makes a house a home? I've been thinking about that this morning.  A home is many things to many people. I am not sure there is a definitive answer.  To some it might be the bricks and mortar that compose its structure, to others it might be the people that reside within that structure. To some it may be both.  

A home is a place of refuge.  A place where you can go to feel safe, where you should feel safe.  Its a place where you keep your most personal belongings and where you can feel accepted and loved. A person's home very much tells a story about them, as individuals and as families.   

The most comfortable homes are those which we feel an emotional connection to, or a sense of belonging. This comes from the people who reside within its walls, not in the physical things which it contains.

 

The Manor House, Castle Combe, England 

There are some incredibly beautiful places, houses in the world.  Situated in beautiful environments, filled with great treasures, but does that make them a home??  When I lived in the UK, I was able to visit a lot of stately homes via the National Trust.  These were national treasures, many having been refurbished to their former glory, and open for visitors to traipse through.  We are interested, it seems, very much so in seeing how other people live and have lived.

I loved being able to walk through Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. The grounds and gardens were beautiful, and it was fascinating to see the history contained within it's walls. One could almost imagine Anne as a child playing in the cobbled courtyard, but it had more of a historic feeling rather than a home feeling.  

Some of my favorite places to visit were the homes of  Prime Minister Winston Churchill and author Rudyard Kipling.  When you visited them, you had a real sense of who they were as people, their personalities very much being visible in the things they chose to surround themselves with.

 

 

(source)

Houses can be filled with antiquities and treasures, but that doesn't make them homes. You can fill a house with the finest things that money can buy, but that won't make it a home. "Home," is a feeling which simply cannot be bought. 

It is an intimate relationship that a person has with the space they live in, and the things they choose to fill it with, and more often than not, the people they choose to share that space with. 

 

(source) 

Homes have a heartbeat and a smell, most being very individual to the persons that reside there.  An old friend of mine was an herbologist and her home smelt very much like garlic, but it wasn't an unpleasant smell in the least. 

A great deal of money is spent on an industry that does nothing but create lush smells for us to "decorate" our homes with.  I have candles and they smell lovely, my favorite one being Pumpkin Spice Latte.  To me it smells like home sweet home, like someone's been baking.  Like the warm lap of my grandmother. 

 

(source) 

A house can be a home, but a home can't be a house, is not just a house. You can live and be in houses, that do not feel like homes. That have no sense of intimacy.  That do not tell you a story, or make you feel a story about the people who reside there. It is possible to feel at "home" in someone else's house.  Because home is very much a feeling, rather than a physical construct. Comfortable.  A place which makes a person feels welcome and like they belong  . . . 

You can have the most beautiful house in the world, and fill it with the most beautiful things, but it may still not feel like a home  . . . 

Home is a feeling that tells the story of "us." It resembles who we are, how we choose to live our lives, what's important to us, what we cherish in life, who we cherish in life. Its about emotional connection  . . .  and a sense of comfort.  And often it is a feeling you bring with you. 

 

 

(Source) 

In my previous marriage, I moved home many times.  He was in the military and I often said I felt like a turtle for those 22 years, carrying my home on my back from place to place. I totally understood the concept of a home being more than just the four walls, but rather the spirit residing within it.

Home is the smell of bread baking and the sound of children playing.  The way the light flickers across a wall at different times of the day . . .  the way the sky looks through the front window at the end of day when the sun is setting.  It is happiness, contentment . . .  calm . . . 

 

(source) 

It is more about who we are  . . .  than where we are.  

This is an exciting phase of my life now  . . .  in all likelihood the last phase of my life.  I find myself at the age of 65 with pretty much a blank canvas.  How and what I choose to fill my house with, to build and fill my home with, is very much up to me.  

There are times that my heart really aches over the things I have had to leave behind.  I carried all of my life with me to England 21 years ago, and then built very much upon that. Leaving in the way I had to to come back to Canada, meant leaving a great deal of that behind, and its been a very painful experience.  Most of the time I don't think about it, or I try not to, but every once in a while my heart can't help it and I will think about something that I was forced to leave  . . . 

A wooden birdhouse that I painted with cherries back in the late 1980's, the wooden babushka breadboards I painted in the early 1980's . . . trinkets, figurines, etc. that my children had given me through the years, gifts from friends, my mother  . . .  all gone, all irreplaceable . . .  and it hurts like you wouldn't believe.  And I sometimes feel angry about that, but mostly I just feel sad and so I try not to think about it if I can . . . 

Mostly I remind myself that home is a feeling . . .  not a place or a thing.  And it is that feeling that you carry with you, no matter where or how far you wander . . .  that makes a house a home.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*There is a little house somewhere, 

surrounded by green cedar boughs,

Where we are eating oatcakes, with honey,

dipping them in our tea three times for good luck.

Somewhere I am sitting with you in stillness.

~Phoebe Wahl•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Peanut Butter Cornflake Bars.  Small batched.  Crisp and chewy and deliciously no bake. 

Have a wonderful Sunday. Be happy. Be safe.  Be blessed. Know always that  . . . 

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And I do too!        

All things nice . . .

 SPEAK WELL

Speak well of people, tell the kindly things

The neighbors do and how they always try

To make the day a little easier,

Talk about sun and wind and open sky,

Have praise upon your lips like jewels rare;

Talk about peace and eventide and prayer.

Speak well of neighbors, let your voice be raised

In words of comfort for the sore oppressed,

Take time to listen to an old man's yarn;

Greet every morning with a happy zest,

And pass along to others on the way,

The lovely tidings of a brand new day.

Speak well, for I have heard the old folks say

That words are arrows with golden tips,

And each will find a target ere the day

Is gathered to its close, so guard your lips

Lest you might wound a heart already sore,

And give a tired back one burden more.

Speak kindly words, they are such precious things

To brighten up a day and give it wings.

~Edna Jaques, Back-door Neighbors 

I read this poem this morning and it made my heart smile.  It is such a good thing, to speak well of others.  As my mother would say, it costs nothing to be kind. 

When I think over these past six months, I can see quite clearly that they have been filled with a multitude of kindnesses, kind words, deeds and thoughts. I have been truly blessed beyond measure. What has been probably the worst thing to happen in my life, has been surrounded and uplifted by some of the sweetest things in my life. I am so grateful to have a heart and a mind that sees these and knows these things. 

 

Hummingbirds are such quick little creatures. It is very difficult to capture one in a photograph unless you happen to be just sitting there with your camera ready and waiting.  I did managed to capture this one yesterday morning quite early.  I was quite far away, but I cropped the photo so that I could see much closer. Its not the best photo in the world, but it will do, pig, it will do.  I also have one with a red band around its throat. I am thinking this is a female and the red banded one is a male. 

 

Josh graduated from Grade six yesterday. Such strange times for children. It was a drive-by graduation. He will not be in the elementary school anymore, but in middle school which is attached to the high school.  He is very camera shy is Josh.  He has a sweet, sweet personality. Like his dad. I think he is very kind hearted. He is a quiet thinker. 

 

Oh how I love my grandsons and granddaughter.  I hope it is not too much longer before I get to spend some real time with them.  And I do hope that one day I will be able to spend time with my granddaughter. I live in hope.  I have two grandsons that I have never seen in person yet. It is my hope that one day I will be able to see them in person as well. Never give up. Just keep plodding on and doing the right things.  Miracles can and do happen. 

This is my daughter in law Kayla. She is married to Doug and is the perfect wife for him.  She is a great wife and mother, so supportive.  I love her. She and Doug met at ABU.  Atlantic Bible University, in Moncton, NB. She works so hard and so does he, to give their wee family the best life that they can. I love and am proud of them both, and am really proud of all my grandchildren and children also.  Family, its everything. 

 

 

Is that not all something each of us can do?  Spread Sunshine. Be lights. Go. Shine.  Light the world.  Sometimes we think there is so much in the world that is unkind and it can drown out the light because the darkness speaks louder, but it is so untrue.  Yes, there is much in the world that is unkind, but there is ever so much more light.  It is just gentler and quieter. It doesn't shout, look at me!  Look at me!  But it is there all the same and is lines our lives with its sweet and gentle presence.  Blessings are there for everyone, even those in the most dire circumstances. Its all a matter of perspective. To some it may be as simple as finding a crust of bread for the day, and for some it is much, much more.  But to a starving man a crust of bread is everything. 

 

There are a few things I have learned over these past months.  Things that I perhaps always knew but never outwardly acknowledged.  Sometimes it is very easy to ignore important things, or let them get lost in the business of every day life. Things like God's goodness.  How we should never ignore a prompting to act, no matter how small or large it may be.   We are His hands. To trust always in His timing. There are no co-incidences in life. I call them God-incidences.

I am actually doing very well after all that has happened, but I do have some low moments. I would not be human if I didn't.  Sometimes when the busy-ness of the day calms down things that have happened over these past months can get a bit on top of me, and I give in to the ache in my heart. Sometimes my heart feels so tender and hurt that the tears just come unbidden. I had a few such moments this week. It is only natural I suppose.   

Those moments are such tender moments.  He has prepared things in advance of these tender moments and His timing is perfect.  He has a perfect plan for us. Even though things sometimes feel like they are less than perfect, His timing is and He has the most wonderful way of reminding us that He loves and cares for us, often through the kindnesses and actions of others.  He knows exactly what we need and he knows exactly when we need it.

 

Way back in early April, on one of my Friday Finds posts I posted the picture and link to the patterns to make these tea and egg cosies.  I thought them quite lovely.  I knew I would never have them however, no matter how much I liked them because I lack the skills to knit such things.  It was a beautiful Retro Breakfast Set.  And I do so love retro.

This week I got a package in the mail, on Thursday, the  morning after just such a night as I have described above, when my feelings were especially tender. The package came from my friend Ginny in New Hampshire.   Look at what was inside . . . 

 

She knitted it for me!  And it is filled with love and covered with hearts.  Such a beautiful piece of work. She is an excellent knitter and so kind.  This arrived at the perfect time.  But that is not all  . . . 

 

There were also these lovely potholders that she had made for me.  The pink/red/green one is an award winning design from Harrisville Designs, not far from where she lives. It represents watermelon and Ginny knows how much I love watermelon.  The other one is one she designed herself and represents the love both my mother and I have for lilacs. It felt like my mother was sending me a warm hug, some love from heaven, through the hands and ministrations of Ginny.  God's timing is perfect. He knew I would need a mother's hug.   

 

There were also these lovely Susan Branch bookmarks.  I have long admired her bookmarks. I know she gives out free downloads from time to time, but these are so lovely, with such positive messages . . . 

 

And there was a lovely purse-sized date book.  I love it. Filled with quotes, etc. I remember having the 2019 -2020 one, and buying a few on amazon as Christmas gifts for my British friends.

My cup was running over . . . 

 

But that is not all  . . . this final item brought tears to my eyes  . . . you all know how much I love Susan Branch and her art.  I have been following and admiring her for years. Since the 1980's when I discovered her art in Country Living magazine.  Just a young mum with a growing family and a dream to one day paint and write myself.  A few years ago when Susan started designing mugs I saved up and bought myself a bluebird mug because I fell in love with it. 

I have never seen a bluebird in real life, but I have always loved them and anything bluebird. When I was preparing to come back to Canada in November, I had to really pick and choose what I could bring or have sent. My church very kindly paid to have nine boxes sent over for me.  

One of the things I had chosen to put in my boxes was my Susan Branch mug.  I had also won one of these mugs in a giveaway back in the autumn of last year and I had requested from Susan that it be sent to my sister so that she could have one too. She had had a rough couple of years and I thought it would cheer her up, and I loved the thought of us each having one, although we were halfway across the world from each other.  And I was looking forward to a day when we could sit and clink (carefully) matching bluebird mugs together.

 

I was heartbroken when I was finally able to open my boxes and see that almost every bit of china or glass I had packed into the boxes was broken beyond use. I cried when I was unpacking them, thinking to myself, what else is going to be taken from me. How much more do I have to lose.  It hardly seemed fair, but . . . . then I learned to let go of a little bit more. Stuff is only stuff and there is much in life that matters a great deal more  . . . 

I did try to find a bluebird mug, thinking that when I could I would replace it, but to no avail . . .   

 

I don't know where Ginny found it or how she got it, but look at what else was in the package!  A Susan Branch Bluebird Mug!  I cried.  God really knows me, and He knows Ginny. His purposes and timings are perfect.

 

And always wrapped in love.

Thank you Ginny.  This was a wonderful gift and a reminder to me

of a Father in Heaven who loves and knows me so very much.  

 

There are no accidents, and no such thing as co-incidence. 

I am blessed.

A thought to carry with you  . . .  

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•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*Whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.

If anything is excellent or praiseworthy . . . 

Think on these things. ~Philippians 4:8

•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。 

 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Rhubarb Meringue Pie.  Delicious!  Simple. An old favourite!

Have a wonderful weekend. Hard to believe it is the last weekend in June.  Be safe. Be healthy. Be happy.  Love all of your todays  because they slip off the calendar far too quickly.  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!        

My Friday Finds . . .

 

 

A few of the things I find each week that pique my interest and inspire me to want to do, create, become, etc. Maybe they will also inspire you!    

 

Melarossa Creazioni.  Free pattern. 

 

Attic 24.  Granny Triangles. 

No source for this or instructions, but they are ice cream balloons!  Such a simple and easy idea and they would be great for parties! 

I am loving this simple do it yourself paper cup crown.  There is a complete picture tutorial on Estefi Machado!  It's in Spanish, but with the photographs you won't need to worry about that anyways.  I think it's brilliant! 

How to root hydrangeas.  From Gorgeous Flowers Garden & Love.  I never knew it was so simple.  

Have you always wanted to know how to fold your sheets like this?  So that you can store them easier and all together in the linen cupboard?   I found a complete pictorial tutorial on The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking!  It's just brilliant.  

I love the organization of this unit.   From Not Just a Housewife.  

 

 

I love this make-over of the spice rack into a paint caddy!  Found on The Palette Muse! 

How to remove labels from anything.  Found on Born Free.  No fuss, no muss.  Easy peasy! 

Now, this is an absolutely brilliant idea!  I am always losing the end of the tape and wasting it trying to get it loose.   Paper clip it!  Found on First for Women. 

A DIY Crochet  Lace Cake Dome.  Found on Daily Fix. 

 

A complete tutorial on how to make a unique outdoor planter using an old chandelier.  Brilliant.  Found on While They Snooze.  It doesn't look that difficult to do.  The hard part for me would be finding the chandelier! 

Handy to know. From ClabberGirl. 

 

Isn't this the cutest pot holder you have ever seen?  I know!  I love cherry anything!  This is a free pattern that you can find on Best Free Crochet! 

 

Isn't this a really cute sock doll?   I know!  Sweet!  I found a complete tutorial on how to make this over on Craft.   It's so adorable!  (Simple to make too!) 

 

 7 Diy Projects that you can make using dried herbs!  There is everything from wall decor to wreaths.  I found this on DIY Ready.

 

 

With fruit season coming up this may come in handy.  How to make Strawberry Jam from Stone Gable.  There is nothing tastier than homemade jams and jellies. I used to make bucket loads when I had all the kids in the house.   Lots of pickles too.   They loved my homemade dills!  I never ever made enough!  We always ran out. 

And from that same site, homemade Laundry Soap.  That page is a virtual gold mine.  There's all sorts of fabulous ideas there, recipes too! 

A fab new use for those toilet paper/kitchen paper towel rolls!  With a bit of scrapbook papers and not a lot of work, you have cute little pillow box gift holders!  Ingenious!  From The Centsible Life!  People are just so amazing at what they come up with!  I love it! 

Okay, now this is absolutely flippin' brilliant!  I don't know who thought of this, but I want to shake their hand.   What a fabulous idea!  You quite simply seal a plastic bag with the top of a water bottle or any plastic bottle and the lid.  You could do this for anything you have opened and want to store!  I am so excited about this!  Can you tell?? 

 I found this on All Things Homie.  It's a brilliant way of making an ugly wall monitor into something not quite so ugly.   Frame it! 

Twinkle lights in Mason Jars.  How very lovely!  Such a simple idea too.  Found on All Things Heart and Home.  People are just so darned inventive don't you think???  

Did you know you can print on paper bags????   I didn't either!  But apparently you can, and I found a tutorial on how to do that here, on Oh Happy Day.  The implications are fabulous!  Party bags, lunch bags, etc. etc.  Valentines Day Treats.  Halloween Treats.   Christmas Treats.   There is no end to what you can do with this idea! 

 

Isn't this pretty?   Do you know what they are made from???  The bottoms from soda bottles!  I know!  It's so amazing!  Eco friendly Blossoms by Michelle Brand found on iDiY.  Fishing line would be the perfect thing to string these together on I think.  I think they are just gorgeous. 

 

Something for the kiddles to help you with.  A Garden Rock Caterpillar!  I found this tutorial on Nellie Bellie.  Isn't it cute? 

I am a big fan of craft paper such as this and I think it makes a beautiful wrap for presents.  You can really adapt it to different methods and things.   This is such a simple presentation here.   The paper doily and ribbon really spark this off.  I love it.  From Un Chin de Magea . 

Kraft paper simply executed in a beautiful way.  I love this. It is so pretty and unique.  From Carolyn's Homework.  The bird is from  an artist named Geninne Zlatkis.  It's so beautiful. 

Another idea which is absolutely beautiful in it's simplicity.  From One Fine Dae.   She has used her sewing machine here to help her out.  It's quite simply gorgeous.

Of course if you have a bazillion gifts to wrap you aren't going to do any of these things, but one at a time, spread out over a long period of time.  All quite do-able. 

 

I just adore these origami bows from Moodkids.   There are so many things you can do with this.  I especially love the bunting! 

 I love, LOVE this paper lantern.   I think it is unusual and quite beautiful.   You can find out more here, on Rebbeca's DIY.   Know what I think would be really nice done as this.  The Eiffle Tower or the Statue of Liberty . . .  Big Ben!  

And those are my finds for this week. I hope there was something here to strike your fancy! 

I shall leave you now with a thought to carry with you  . . .

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° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.°Believe you can, and

You're halfway there.

~Unknown  •。★★ 。* 。  

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Crispy Chicken Salad.  This was fabulously tasty! 

Have a brilliant Friday. I cannot believe that this is the last one in June! Where does the time go!  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!