a colorful gift from nature
received on a cool winter morning
Winter Gift
Tag Archives: appreciation
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 Though it is said, this decorating trend is outdated, we have laughed. It may be outdated, but it is much more current than what we had.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.
Staycation Delight: Unforgettable Memories with a Friend
We do not remember days
We remember moments
Cesare Pavese
July has been my staycation month, which has been great!
From beaches to garden spaces
From tourist spots, to less known beautiful locations
From bustling to quiet…
Sharing time with a friend is a gift.
The moments of the last few days have provided many memories.
Time spent with friends is refreshing to the soul.
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!
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.
Christmas Traditions
Traditions
Just the word evokes many thoughts
Different for each of us
Impact of these thoughts is equally dissimilar
Some individuals become melancholy
Others upbeat and joyful
The word suggests something one can count on
Yet in truth, traditions reflect change
My granny baked an abundant assortment of cookies
Enjoyed by all, with each of us having our favorites
I took my favorite and ensured it was made every year
Thus, my children were introduced to my favorite for the Christmas season
Then their children delighted in these same little delicate sweets
Each of these children have carried some traditions from my home to their own
Adding new twists and turns creating something unique for their families
No littles at my house for the holidays
Yet these little green trees still get pulled from the oven to be enjoyed by others
An adult grandchild, with children of her own
Requested her gift be a box of these cookies for her family
I smile
How my granny would be honored to know
These little gems she so readily baked
Are still being enjoyed five generations later
A tradition continues.
Opportunity
Clouds, Dreams & Fantasy is currently being offered through Kindle Unlimited for free. I don’t know how long this opportunity will exist. So my friends, if you want to take advantage of reading my latest book, check out the following link and begin the journey.
https://www.amazon.com/author/lindalflynn_words
After reading, please kindly leave a review on Amazon. This is one of the few ways authors have of reaching other readers.
Thank you!
Will it, or will it not? This one did!
I admit, I don’t know what I’m doing. Everything about my current environment differs from anything else I’ve known. The learning curve has been steep.
The first photo is of a dragon fruit bloom. Our first year here, I watched the blooms, waited and then, nothing…
I learned they often require hand pollination. So this second season, I began hand pollinating the blooms. And nothing. Nothing, that is, until late in the season. The fruit set.
You can imagine my initial surprise when the fruit starts gained in size, instead of just withering on the plant. This surprise was surpassed when I saw the fruit turning red and eventually appear ripe.
There is still much to learn.
Will It?
or will it not?
Become fruit…
Stepping Back in Time
What a weekend! It was Tom’s 50th Class Reunion (twice delayed), which sent us heading to Scottsdale, AZ for Memorial Day Weekend. The class reunion was great and provided my hubby with the opportunity to connect with folks from his past, talk about high-school pranks, project cars and hobbies. We enjoyed much laughter and good connection with some of his former classmates. During the video presentations of senior pictures, I realized those students looked like the kids I graduated from high school with 50 years ago. They sure looked young! My guess is they were like the kids I graduated with. They thought they knew much about life, Didn’t we all experience a surprise?
Though the reunion was fun, our accommodations were the highlight of the weekend. We stayed in the house where Tom grew up. A home built in the early 50s, designed by a renowned architect and built by Del Web as one of his first homes before he became famous for building communities. This house was a one of a kind in a unique neighborhood developed by invitation of the owners of Ride ‘n Rock Ranch. This house was the initial build within the area and identified as the Ranch Guest House. The owner never stayed in the home, but used it as a perk for his executives and for tax benefits. A breezeway separated the bedrooms from the main structure, with each bedroom having its own entrance and a private bathroom. Tom’s parents were the second owners of the structure. During their tenure there, they enclosed the breezeway, which resulted in the first bedroom being connected to the main part of the house.
There’s a one lane road leading to the home, which is set back with plantings and trees lining the walkway to the entry. I felt like I was entering an enchanted zone.
The current owners are passionate about the history of the home and understanding changes performed on the property. They have amassed a huge history on the house and the neighborhood.
Tom has told me many stories of the place and his growing up experiences. I have to admit, I struggled to understand the layout or the neighborhood. His stories came to life for me. It felt like I stepped back in time.
Journey to the Heights 