Wednesday

Fun mail!

Going to the mailbox can be the highlight of our day. Recently I've received some fun mail I will share with you. This 8-page booklet was sent to me by a new internet friend, she wanted to share pretty things with me. She loves purple, everything was purple or lavender - the envelop, the violet stickers, the return address, even the stamps!

Thanks for the nice surprise, Gwen!

I also received another purple envelop and card with violets from another dear friend, Janet. It also has a sweet little heart charm on it! Thanks, Jan!

Living mail!

This surprise mail is alive! What a fun gift to receive - wild violets to plant! My friend read about my love of wild violets and how I havent' seen them since childhood, she dug up one of hers, packed it up and mailed it to me!

Thanks, Laura!

Rare as a $2 bill

My friend, Mary Jo, has so many friends she can't afford to buy gifts for all of them. This is what she does - sends a two dollar bill in their birthday card! Isn't that a classic idea!

(I told about Mary Jo and her decorating ministry in March on the blog, see the archives.)

Tuesday

"Those little nimble musicians of the air, that warble forth their curious ditties..." Izaak Walton

Psalm 67

Monday

Memorial Day Prayer
























A Memorial Day Prayer

They served and fought and died
so that we might be
safe and free,
Grant them, O Lord,
Eternal peace
and give them "The Victory"!
And in these days of unrest,
filled with grave uncertainty,
Let's not forget
The price they paid
to keep our country free . . .
And so, on this Memorial Day,
we offer up a prayer --
May the people of all nations
be united in Thy care,
And grant us understanding
and teach us how to live
So we may lose
our selfish pride
and learn to love and give,
And keep us ever mindful
of the fighting men who sleep
In Arlington and foreign lands
so we may ever keep
The "light of freedom" burning
in their honor through the years
And hear their cry
for peace on earth
resounding in our ears --
Forgive us our transgressions
and "Oh, God, be with us yet"
Lest in our pride
and arrogance
we heedlessly forget.

Helen Steiner Rice

Sunday

Coincidence?

My Secret Garden

I've been having some sessions with a Christian counselor. He has been teaching a class each month on “Anxiety” at our church. He is a professional psychotherapist.

At the end of the session he told me he wanted me to do an exercise and use it daily.He had me close my eyes and lie down on this really soft cushy tan leather sofa. He told me to visualize walking down a path and coming to a lush high hedge with a big beautiful carved wooden gate and look down beside my right foot where I’ll see a stone. I lean down and pick up the stone, under it I see a gold key, pick it up and place it in the keyhole to open the gate. I walk through the gate. I then place the key in my pocket.

I turn around and look at the view: Lust green gardens are enclosing every angle. Flowers of every color are everywhere. To the right are yellow flowers, pink flowers, all white flowers. Gold flowers are to the left, red flowers, blue and purple flowers, ETC.

Straight ahead I see a flowering vine covered gazebo. I walk to the gazebo, inside I see someone, He turns to me with an out-stretched hand. As I take His hand He turns and picks up a gift to give to me. What a lovely gift, tied in a large beautiful bow. I untie the strings of the bow, and slowly open up the package. Inside I touch soft tissue paper and take out the gift. I then sit and talk and pour out my heart, my hurts and fears, as well as my joy and happiness.

Now as I leave, I again take in the beauty of the secret garden. I walk toward the gate, take the key from my pocket, unlock the gate and go out. I lock the gate, and place the key under the stone beside my foot.”

I then opened my eyes. Bill (the counselor) asked me what was in the gift. I was a little embarrassed to say what the first thing that came to my mind – “A Tea Cup!” He smiled and said, “Jesus met you right where you are.”

I felt so relaxed, but I wasn’t able to totally ponder the relaxation exercise until the next day when I took time to lie on the bed and walk through the steps again.

The unusual part of this story is this:
Something also happened the next day that was a total surprise – when the mail arrived I received a medium sized package. It wasn’t a Mother’s Day gift from my children (I had already received their gifts.) Curious, I opened it up – what was inside took my breath away – one of the most beautiful tea cups I’ve ever seen, white with tiny yellow roses and violets scattered around the cup and saucer! A dear internet friend I’ve never actually met sent me this package.

Coincidence?

God Incidence?

Saturday

Or God Incidence?

Thank you












Thanks, Becca!

Pink Lemonade Pie




Today we were invited to a cookout. I took a frozen lemonade pie and it was a big hit!





Frozen Pink Lemonade Pie
1-1/4 cups Low Fat Honey Grahams finely crushed crumbs
1/3 cup margarine or butter, melted

1 qt. frozen vanilla yogurt, softened
1 can (6 oz.) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel (optional.)

1/2 cup thawed COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping

Mint sprigs, sliced strawberries, blueberries

MIX crumbs and margarine. Press firmly onto bottom of 9x13 pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Cool.

BEAT yogurt and lemonade concentrate in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add lemon zest. Spread over crust.

FREEZE 4 hours or until firm. Cut into squares. Serve each square topped with a dollop of whipped topping, mint sprigs, a strawberry slice, and a few blueberries.

(Limeade concentrate may be substituted.)


Friday

Happy Birthday, Becca!

Today (Saturday) is my friend, Becca's birthday! Becca loves bluebirds and roses! She enjoys decorating her house with lovely soft pinks and pastels. She has a real knack for turning "found" items into real treasures. Her house is a winter wonderland at Christmas time when she has about fifteen trees decorated in different themes! I've never met Becca face-to-face, but we have been close internet friends for several years now! Someday we hope to meet and take tea together!

Just for you!

Bluebirds

Here are some little bluebird items I bought recently at Cracker Barrel. I always think of sweet Becca when I see bluebird things, and pink roses!

Thursday

Magnolia

The magnolias are in bloom here in Florida! There are many magnolia trees in our neighborhood and throughout the town.

Magnolia by the lake

This magnolia tree is in our backyard beside the lake.
The pictures of my grandmother as a baby in the beautiful christening gown, and one at about age 16 in a straw hat! She married my grandfather at age 16, he was 35, a widower with two sons. They were happily married over 50 years and had four children, and many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The grandchildren called her Nana. I called her "Mama."

Monday

Antique Sewing Machine

I bought this treadle sewing machine back in the 70s. The clock on top is a favorite. The two framed photos are of my grandmother when she was a baby, and the small oval is when she was about 16 years old. The candlestick goes well with the clock, it was my grandmother's along with the clock.

The yellow rose painting is by Thomas Kinkade.

Antique Clock


I inherited this antique clock from my grandmother. It also has two candlesticks that are similar. This has always been a favorite! The flowers I added at Christmas and liked them so well I left them!

Psalm 16

Sunday

Birthday Roses!


I always enjoy receiving so many cards from my family and friends. I also received some beautiful e-cards! Thanks, everybody!

Thursday

Best Friends


Everyone hears what you say.
Friends listen to what you say.
Best Friends listen to what you don't say.

At my age I have acquired a lot of "Best Friends!" There are different reasons why each of these friends have acquired the title of a Best Friend to me! We all know the difference of a friend, an acquaintance, and a neighbor, these are people we like and enjoy, but a Best Friend is someone even more special to us. Sometimes I know the exact reason why she is classified as a best friend to me, sometimes I may not be able to put it into words of why, but I just know she is very special and want her in my life as often as possible, even if it is through phone calls, letters, cards, or email messages. I even have some internet Best Friends, ladies I've never actually met, but have grown to love them through the years of correspondence.

This little tea pot was given to me by a long-time best friend! It isn't a real tea pot to make tea in so I keep Splenda packets in it. It makes me smile, that's why I keep it in a place where I see it all day! Thanks, "Best Friend!!"

Psalm 44

Tuesday

Porcelain Tea Cup Collection

I have a few porcelain tea cups and saucers that I display on a shelf in a hallway near the master bedroom. These tea cups are very thin and dainty so I don't use them. I just enjoy their beauty.

Porcelain Tea Cups on the shelf

Monday

Alamanda

This Alamanda bush is near our front door. Here in Florida it blooms all year. It is also getting big since we haven't had a bad freeze the past two years.

Sunday

Psalm 100


For my violet lover friends!

Happy Mother's Day!

(For those of us who have lost our Mothers)

SHE IS ALWAYS WITH US
We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother is more than a memory. She is a living presence. Your mother is always with you.
She's the whisper of leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick, and perfume that she wore. She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winters day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is your birthday morning. Your mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every teardrop. A mother shows every emotion..... happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow.... and all the while hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on this earth can separate you. Not time, not space..... not even death !

Author unknown

Saturday

Tea Things

This is a Sandy Clough Tea Pot, her book, and a tea towel. I bought the tea pot because it has yellow roses on it. The knob on the lid is a little shoe! The name of the tea pot is "Laura" after one of the characters in this book. Sandy is a beautiful artist and beautiful lady inside and out. She and I used to attend the same Baptist church back in the 70s. We were in art and craft shows together. The detail she uses in her artwork is just incredible - the lace looks so real! Last Spring I had the pleasure of meeting Sandy again. I went to a retreat she spoke at. She also hosted a large tea party at lunch time and it was very nice. I enjoy reading her books and seeing her artwork.

Friday

Dody's New Toy!

Recently two dear friends came to visit us and brought our little dog, Dody, a new toy. It's a spider that squeaks! He just loves it and loves to play tug-of-war with it!

Wednesday

This is a tea cup and saucer with no history that I can remember. I don't even remember where this one came from! It's pretty though! It has a silver sticker on the bottom with "Norcrest, crafted in Japan," on it. The white gloves were my mother's. This book "The Tea Rose" by Jennifer Donnelly was given to me, I haven't read it yet, one of my friends read it and she said it is sad.

Pink Hibiscus Bush

This Hibiscus bush is near our front door, it blooms almost year around here in Florida.

Monday

Most Beautiful Book of Poetry

I'm going to start sharing pages from a favorite book of mine. "The Book of Psalms Transcribed by James Swan Freemantle." He was born in 1859 and died in 1934. The book is inscribed "To my beloved wife, Clara, From Her Loving Husband, James S. Freemantle, 4 January 1918." His son, Stephen writes the foreword, giving some of the family history. He says his father was not a religious man, but he poured all the skills he possessed into his rendering of the psalms. Because they are such beautiful love poetry he saw his illumination of them as a testament to his love for Mother. This book was first published in Great Britain in 1982 by Federick Muller.