a colorful gift from nature
received on a cool winter morning
Winter Gift
Category Archives: Light Hearted Living…
The Reason
This tile was the reason for the slow project we undertook…
We’ve been in our house for four years. Love living here and love how much time we can spend outdoors. Like any house you move into, there are projects needing attention. Initially, we focused much of our attention on outside areas. In the house, there were a few things we couldn’t wait to change; and a few other things we didn’t like, but didn’t know what we wanted to do. The guest bathroom fell into that category.
Today, I can say that I’m glad we took our time with this project. Our house is older, so some features are older. Hahaha. The guest bathroom had not been updated in years. You can see from the before photo what I mean.
Yet, I loved the tile in the bathroom and did not want to sacrifice it for a remodel project. My preference for the tile made the process slow. It also meant we would have to live with the existing cabinetry. Now that we are on the backside of the redo, I’m glad we went slowly.
Hubby hated the old shower doors. Removing them allowed us to feel like the existing tub was workable. We each hated how the drop ceiling light box made us feel like the ceiling was right on top of our head. Removing the box and exposing the lights created the need to find something suitable. We are both suckers for lighting. So, the quest for lights was a fun part of hunting down materials for the bathroom. Tom cut out the existing sinks and found drop-in sinks to fill the holes and which allowed us to keep the tile counter tops.
We both found the wall of mirror to be too much. Finding a pair of mirrors to replace the wall took longer than we expected.
Paint colors were picked out, and the room was transformed. With all the major replacements done, the bathroom was shaping up. Yet the cabinets looked so old. I painted and antiqued them. Though it is said, this decorating trend is outdated, we have laughed. It may be outdated, but it is much more current than what we had.
By taking our time, we ended up with a unique bathroom to enjoy for years.
Joy
Summer is running,
already running away
It just arrived…
We spent a day at the county fair,
what a day it was
On a whim
we entered the Butterfly Farm exhibit
Enclosed environment filled with
beautiful
fragil
graceful
free
curios
butterflies
And people
All captivated or standing in awe
Numerous varieties of butterflies
each with their own colors and markings,
different species were drawn to various colors
They were emboldened and landed on whatever drew their attention.
The people moved among these winged creatures.
Enchanted by their movement,
their color,
their beauty.
We left the butterflies
Enjoyed other exhibits
Went out to dinner with friends
Returned home, contented
Reflection afterwards
brought the realization
most were smiling in this butterfly environment.
Leaving one wondering
when and where was the last time so many people were visibly happy?
why does it not happen more frequently?
Yes, we left the butterflies
yet a part of their spirit remains within me.
I say,
Bring on the butterflies!
Returning
March was a whirlwind.
Weather changes
Time adjustments
Traveling adventures
House projects
Some quiet downtime
Midwest adventures.
Just a few photos…
Traveling is fun, but so is returning home.
Last night we went to the theatre to see Tartuffe.
It has been years since I’ve seen a Moliere play.
What a treat!
I’d forgotten how timeless his work is.
Kudos to North Coast Repertory Theatre for doing such outstanding work with this masterpiece.
Handstamp
A weekend at the shore
Seemingly at the very edge of the world,
Steps from the deck descend the rocks
Then end.
High tide rolls in
Obliterating the bottom steps
And sand below.
Waves crash upon the rocks
Spraying high into the air
Then dropping on the deck
before returning to the sea.
Other waves role in splashing against the house.
The tide recedes
and the ever-constant cycle repeats.
The sun comes up and then,
The sun goes down with
God’s majesty on full display…
As his hand stamp sunset ends each blue day.
Promises
Here’s a peek
at what’s to come
after the storm…
In Between
The Beginning
Dinner in Milwaukee
Stage set for five days of non-stop activity.
Trip was planned around a family wedding.
Sister provided our resting location.
Visited with as many family and friends as time allowed.
Good times and memories abounded.
Last sight in Milwaukee
The Ending
Thanksgiving 2021…
Our second in this house
Much different from the first
When we shared a simple meal alone
This year–
Family, food and laughter filled the house
More food than we needed
Laughter abounded
Memories to savor
Traditions from years past
Introduced with new foods and different stories
For 2021, this event is over
Yet, the memories linger
Seven Dwarfs Humor
Nothing else matters more than sharing kind thoughts with friends and those you care about. Let me tell you a few reasons why. Friends carry one another burdens. Friends make friends laugh. And friends make life fun. I have friends scattered around the globe and they enrich my life. I’m the connection point in this story that spans three countries. I hope the story stretches even farther.
It all began as the result of a writing prompt from an Irish group I’m part of. They gave us about 10 minutes to answer the following question.
If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be?
My initial reaction. Ugh. What am I going to write?
Then the words flowed. I read, and to my amazement, the group laughed.
The next day, I was chatting with an overseas friend, suffering from the effects of COVID, and she stated she knew she was grumpy, and hated feeling so. I offered to share what I written, hoping she’d find humor in the piece.
What I received back was totally unexpected. It was delightful and left me laughing. My husband, not wanting to be left out of the humor, read both pieces and joined me in the laughter.
Words are so powerful. If you can share something which will lighten another person’s burden—I encourage you to do so.
Here are the two pieces. If you have a response to either, please leave a comment.
Who knows what type of dialog we may get going here…
The prompt:
If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be?
Today, I would be GRUMPY. You know how they say one gets up on the wrong side of the bed? How can that be? I share my bed, which means I only have ONE side to get up from. If I’m GRUMPY today, and only have one side to get up from, does that mean I’ll be GRUMPY again tomorrow, and the day after?
I can’t bear the thought of having the name GRUMPY hung around my neck. It feels like a two ton weight. Carrying this burden around continues to wear me down.
“Get outa my way! Can’t you see? I’ve got a load to carry and you’re making my work harder than it needs to be.”
“Don’t you smile at me! There’s nothing to be happy about today.”
“You. You, over there… Stop talking about me. You’d be GRUMPY too if you had to lug this rock around with no one to help you.”
“Don’t go telling me what to do. I’ve gotta mind of my own.”
“When will this terrible day end? …and who else is going to show up thinking they can tell me what to do.”
“What’s wrong with this porridge? It isn’t sweet, and it has lumps in it?”
“Time for bed again already?”
“Hey you. Shut off the lights and shut up your mouth. I wanta get some sleep.”
The response:
Hi, I am GRUMPY this week and I am told Covid is responsible for that bad feeling. I have been SNEEZY, SLEEPY, DOPEY and DOC too. I was so HAPPY to talk to you again today, but when I am better, I think I will be my old self BASHFUL again xx
All the dwarfs loved your poem and amazed you got that out in a few minutes. Thank you for sharing it with me, love from BASHFUL xx
–by Sony Gordon-Farleigh
Still learning…
Almost a year of tending a rose garden
No prior experience
Gaging water and fertilizer needs
Spraying insects
Pruning for shape and plant health
Always guessing
Questioning decisions
You think you have learned
Then the seasons change
So do the needs of the plants
Sigh!
Cooler temperatures arrived
Buds abound
First cutting this season
I know way more than last year
Yet know there is more to learn.
