I'll Cheer You to the End

How are you doing friends? 

Here we are just beginning to wade into Autumn; I couldn't be happier. I love everything about this time of year. It makes my heart happy and feels me with so much hope. The crisp morning air is perfect for walks when time allows. It was such a morning when I caught my social distancing friends chattering away one cool sunny morning.

Are you still hanging in there?

 Do you feel like things are beginning to feel somewhat normal? 

I don't either. I've been in school three weeks, it has helped even though it has kicked my backside. Some days have been easier than others; and, it sure helps when younger teachers are saying they are whipped at the end of the day as well.

I know we will come to the end. Perhaps the end will not look quite like where we were before, but we will turn the corner when the time is right. I know, we are ready now, aren't we? It's hard, but let's hang in there. Let's give grace to not only our friends and family, but those we might not like so much. Be gentle with yourself. No one is breezing through this.

I am rooting for you, 

for me, 

for our country

 and the world. 

We can do this... I promise!

Have the very best week ever!

Hugs!

(shhh.... I'll be back with some book talk.)

Stay Safe

To all my friends in Texas and Louisiana, please stay safe.   There are so many in this country holding you in their heart's and prayers.

We have always been a country, when disaster hits we put aside differences and work together.  I pray we can do this as our friends in harm's way this weekend work through the next few days, weeks

 and months.

Reflections

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be 
The candle or the mirror that reflects it.” 

                                                                                        Edith Wharton

During winter I often stand in the sunroom looking out with camera at the ready to catch something new growing, in motion or just a tiny something I find amazing.  When I pull up my photographs I often find the above reflection, and I hit delete.

This morning I woke to the sound of rain and thunder.   I left everyone upstairs and eased downstair to write,  catch up and enjoy a few minutes of quiet time with my book.  I stepped out into the sunroom and saw the reflection of the fireplace in the window reminding me to stop, to breathe and take a few minutes to reflect a week past...

via

meeting a good friend for lunch,

(we stayed a bit closer to home)

  preparing for book group with my electrical power out; 

 enjoying a lively conversation both about our book and other subjects,

  looking out one afternoon to find

old friends 

 returning to the garden,

 how bringing home a simple bouquet made my heart smile,

 raindrops falling on the skylight giving me a morning of music,

of all that is sweet,

and all the sweet moments which lie ahead.

And now,  at the end of my reflection....I know I am truly blessed.

Have a wonderful week, and savor all that is good and beautiful.

The Company of Friends

I don't do it often enough, but I love to entertain.  I enjoy everything about it.

I enjoy designing the table,

planning the menu,

polishing the silver,

and opening my door to welcome dear friends and family.

I hope you are enjoying the company of those dear to you during this holiday

season.  I believe it is especially important now 

that we seek joy and peace in the company of others.

The Gift of Time

Thank you so much for all your thoughtful comments on my last post.

Thank you for reading and allowing me to share my memories.

This morning I left home prepared to work a long day.   

Once at school a friend surprised me by arriving prepared to work my extended day.  

After some good natured arguing I found myself with two hours no one knew were mine.  

At first I felt a bit guilty and disoriented,  but soon decided to selfishly

 put concerns and anxiety aside and enjoy my afternoon.   

  

I escaped to a big name bookstore where I could disappear among the stacks. 

After browsing shelves I treated myself to a magazine

 and a cup of tea to savor.  

I returned home, dressed Willie in his halter, 

pocketed a few treats,

and with camera in hand, headed out for a walk.

It was a beautiful day for 

 photographing the wonders

found in my neighborhood.

Willie and I returned home with spirits lifted

and ready for a long evening of election returns.  

 

I would love to hear how you would spend two hours free from obligation.

(I apologize if this appeared  unedited. 

 I inadvertently hit publish in place of preview)

"It Takes a Village"...

and one really thoughtful fellow blogger to change the look here at Living Life.

Yesterday while playing around with the look of my blog I realized I had started something I wasn't sure I knew how to finish.  I put out the call for help and immediately started receiving responses.  The first, and most helpful (many offered much appreciated encouragement) came from Sarah at thoughts from My Yellow House.  Not only did she send a suggestion through comments, she checked in on me several times during the evening via email.  Thank you Sarah for your generous help and time.  I think we did it!

*****

Last week Sunday at ciao domenica posted about Muriel Spark Reading Week hosted by stuck-in-a-book.    I remembered reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in high school and enjoying it very much, but not really thinking about the author at all.  I wasn't aware of the number books she had authored.

I did a bit of research and decided I would read Curriculum Vitae, A Volume of Autobiography.   Friday,  I picked up a copy at the library and also found The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie on the shelf as well.  I thought it time to reread it.  I have actually been reading them together and finding it such fun discovering  many things from her life incorporated into this small tale of an extraordinary teacher.   I am looking forward to becoming reacquainted with an old friend and learning more about the remarkable author this week.

Thank you Sunday for the introduction to a new blog and for continuing to add to my "reading" list.

*****

Lastly, thanks to all who commented and emailed wishing me a speedy recovery.  I have been well taken care of; I am well on my way to being back a 100%.

So you see.... this week I have taken full advantage of "the village".  I hope I may return the favors soon.



 

New Life

The sun was out and shining brightly today.  Even though I would really like one nice blanket of snow, I am beginning to feel the itch for spring.  After school I did visit one of my favorite shops to browse.  I couldn't resist the pretty new colors and picked up a few fun things for my spring wardrobe.  I always love the first new things of the season.  It feels like the breath of "new life".

As I sat in the kitchen I noticed the winter honeysuckle blooming.  It is planted on the side of the house, and I don't always notice it when it blooms.

Of course, I grabbed the camera and headed outside.  While following Willie around I found "new life" all around me.

I told you the red camellias were ready to burst open.

The daffodils are a little droopy; I suspect from the little cold spell we had earlier this week.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed this is a bloom on the magnolia.

It will be it's first time to bloom.

Tonight while you are reading this I will be celebrating the expectation of  a "new life". 

I will be joining my school friends in hosting a baby shower for a very special woman.

Can you keep a secret?  

I'll show you what is in the package.

I'm a little partial to "spring babies".

(my baby was born in the spring)

There is "new life" all around me....

                                                             and I am truly blessed.

The Tale of the Traveling Sweater

Knitting baby gifts for special  families in my life is something I do with great joy.  I know I have talked about this before.  This last creation was for the first grandson of my dear friends in New Hampshire.   We once lived in the same neighborhood many many years ago.  Their daughter was my daughter's first baby sitter.  Our family left the area moving to Boston only to return to find out they actually were moving to the Boston area and we were moving to Nashville.  Through twenty three years we  have continued to keep up, at first with Christmas cards, pictures and letters, now through the internet.    

This past summer we had the chance to spend a day with them while visiting Boston.  How wonderful it was to catch up on all the news, face to face.  We had a great time at lunch.  Afterwards we walked around stopping to chat only to begin walking again and chatting more.  Twenty three years vanished with a blink.   We shared pictures of our children and grandchildren.  We stopped for cannolis and talked more.  Much too soon the day passed and they needed to head back to New Hampshire.  During one of our conversations they shared the good news their son and daughter-in-law were expecting a baby boy.  Before our visit was over I was already thinking color combinations and designs for a his sweater. 

I think I shared the beginning of this project, oh maybe, sometime in August.   I love cables, but have never knitted a complete sweater in those tricky little curves.  I was so excited to begin.  There might have been a few complications.  I am not for sure if this was the first or the third time I took it back to the beginning.   If I am not happy, it always goes back to the beginning.

Knowing I had a few trips planned I knitted on and off feeling secure with my timetable.  I took it with me on a trip to St. Louis and finished the back.  I had great plans of knitting on the way to Sweden, but in my careful planning and packing I picked up the wrong needles.  It stayed folded neatly packed in a ziploc bag. 

The holidays put me a little further behind than I would have liked, but I was able to work on it little by little still confident I would have the sweater on its way before the baby was a month old (I always try to knit 6 or 9 month size).  Christmas afternoon, after all the excitement was cleared away and I was packed to leave for the beach, I once again had a block of time to knit.   I almost finished one sleeve before putting it down for the night.   I gathered all my supplies, being especially careful to pack all the tools I would need to finish.    I double and triple checked to make sure I had my pattern, measuring tape and a sewing needle packed.   Yes, I was confident this sweater would be finished before my feet ever touched the sand in Florida.  Ha!

December 26th would be the day to finish.  Not yet across the state line I finished the right sleeve.   I pulled out the smaller needles, checked the size, perfect.  Feeling sure of myself I  pulled out my yarn bag to take out the pretty aqua wool.   All I could say was, "You have got to be kidding me!".  Well, I probably thought a few other things as well, but I didn't say them out loud (I hope)  and I am not going to type them here either.  Yes, I had been so careful, I left the contrasting yarn back in my knitting basket by my chair (you remember, the chair the snake might have been sleeping under once upon a time).

 Yes, it took me a little longer than I would have liked.  The sweater was sent a few weeks later than planned,  but each stitch was knitted with pleasure and love.  (With all my lack of organization, I did have quite a bit of reading time.)  The sweater that traveled far and wide was finally completed, washed and blocked and sent on it's final journey last week just as I once again left for St. Louis with yarn and the correct size needles packed for the next special baby sweater.  You can be sure I had a check list.

Saturday evening I received an email from my friend.   The package had arrived and delivered to the babies parents.  I received another email just a few minutes later with an attached picture of the baby wearing his sweater.  I was very close to jumping up and down....

It fits!

(I can't wait to share with you the next project)

The Art of Receiving

I love to give gifts, especially random gifts.  I am energized by the search; and, delighted with the discovery of the perfect gift for a special person.  I am thrilled when I am successful. 

I equally enjoy receiving gifts, although I do not always find it as easy as giving.   I am always touched when someone thinks of me and takes the time to pick out something just for me.  I have never been one to want to peek or hurriedly open presents.  I am perfectly happy just looking at or holding a package knowing someone thought about me.  For me, it truly is the thought.  

I am of the old school where saying thank you is important.   I enjoy the act of composing a thank you note.  I want the giver to know how much I appreciate the gift and most of all the thought.  With that said, I am embarrassed to say I have been negligent.  Sometimes we forget words of praise or acknowledgement are equally wonderful gifts even though they do not come wrapped in pretty paper and bows.

Several weeks ago Jill at Chillin With Jill and  just this past week Rosemary at  Share My Garden  honored me with the gift of passing an award my way.

I have thanked both individually, but have been negligent in doing so on my blog.  As I told both, I am both honored and humbled by being mentioned on their sites.  I know there are many who do not accept awards.  I think I am in the undecided category.  The best way I know to say thank you is to pass on this award (I will call it an acknowledgement) and hopefully  introduce you to a few of the wonderful blogs I enjoy.   As I have mentioned before I have a difficult time choosing whom to forward awards.   You are all my favorites.

********

I have many reasons for selecting and following a blog.  I want to be enlightened, taught and entertained.  I enjoy beauty, creativity  and an ongoing conversation.  I admire strength and commitment.  I look for words that will make me a better me.  I don't ask for much, do I?

Here is only a sampling of those answering my call.

1.  Gretchan at The Jennings Boys.  She is the one responsible for making me believe I had something worth saying.  She was my first follower.  She journals for her boys, and I adore keeping up with this sweet and committed family.
2.  Lana at Life at Wild Berry Cottage.  She delights my heart.  She takes and shares her joy in the simple pleasures in living.  I am almost certain she always has a smile on her face.
3. Faisal at Gardener in the Distance.  He introduces me to fascinating people, extraordinary places and things I have never seen before.  He also writes thought provoking poetry.
4.  Helen at Helen Tilston Painter.  Helen and I only recently became acquainted.  Her paintings are a feast for the eyes.  I look forward to spending more time with her.
5.  My last selection is for Charlotte at Nightbook.   Charlotte and I were in high school together.  I was a year or two ahead of her and I suppose we ran in different circles.  We became reacquainted a few years ago on another site, and found each other's blogs shortly thereafter.  She is an accomplished author and a professor.  She has not posted in several months and I miss her posts.  She always gives me something to think about.  I hope she returns soon.

 Well there you are.  There are so many more to mention.  Please check out my blogroll.

Jill...thank you!  You are a strong woman; I admire and applaud your choosing to adopt two special needs children and your commitment to raising them as strong and capable young adults.

Rosemary...thank you!  I feel as if we are kindred spirits.  If a cottage becomes available near you, please let me know.  I can be packed within the week.  I would love to be your neighbor.  We most certainly need a nice long visit.

******
Blogger Business

A few have emailed me they are unable to comment on my posts.  I've been told it is the new reply threads.  I have reported it and have fiddled a bit with my settings.  Please do not stop trying.  I love hearing from you.  Your words and encouragement are important to me; you lift me up.  Thank you!  Bonnie

For Her It Had To Be...

"A faithful friend is a strong defense;
And he that hath found him hath found a treasure." 

                                                                                     ...Louisa May Alcott    

The gift has been wrapped, the card signed and all placed in a postal box, carefully sealed, addressed and shipped to Houston.

Yes, I've mailed my latest gift of love.  Before I show you the the finished product.  I want to share with you a little about my friend.

I have mentioned before I have a handful of friends who are very special to me.  I wrote about one several months ago.  Today I want to share with you a little bit about another very dear friend.

Cam and I have been friends for over thirty years.  We met when we both worked in the same office in Austin, Texas.  She was (and still is) a spunky redhead who pretty much shot from the hip.   She has a wonderful sense of humor and a laugh, well, if you are around when she starts laughing you just can't be in a bad mood, it is infectious.  She is one of the bravest, most loyal and honest people I know.   She attended my wedding, she was with me shortly after the birth of my daughter and she attended my daughter's wedding.

As I was knitting I started thinking, as I always do,  about all our years together.  She is one of those friends who appears when you are in most need of a friend.    Roger and I moved from Austin shortly after we were married. We were not happy where we were living and decided we would try to move back.  We found a house still under construction.    Now someone needed a job in Austin immediately.  With a newborn, Cam invited me to stay with her and her family while I looked for employment and until our home was finished.  The first day I remember being so discouraged.  The second day she sent me out and (she probably remembers this differently) told me to come back with a job.  And you know what, I did.    I remained with her until our house was finished.  Believe it or not we stayed good friends.

Cam loves babies.  She was meant to be a mother.   She has three wonderful children and two beautiful grandchildren; God really got that one right.  She was one of the three people I immediately told when I found out I was pregnant.   No one could have been more excited for us.  Each month on the day of my doctor's visit I would get a phone call from her checking on me.  I think she kept better track of my visits than I did.  When I hit twelve weeks I started hemorrhaging and had to be rushed to the doctor's office as an emergency.  I was told I would probably lose the baby and should be prepared to return to the hospital over the weekend.

Roger took me home and I settled in for bed rest.  Shortly after Roger left to go to a meeting, my telephone rang.  It was Cam.   She said she had called my office and when told I wasn't coming in she knew something was wrong.  She stayed on the phone with me and listened while I talked and cried.  She knew first hand what I was feeling.  She said I could call her if I needed her.  We hung up.  Before I could settle back down on the sofa there was a knock on my door.  I opened the door; I am sure you already know, it was my friend Cam.  She said she couldn't let me sit at home alone.  I can't remember how long she stayed, but I know it was several hours.  She walked with me through one of the longest days of my life, and I know Roger was relieved to know she was with me. (Just a note, that baby is now a beautiful twenty seven year old.)  That is my dear friend Cam.

I have so many wonderful stories I could share.  She is vibrant, talented and courageous.  One day she will email she is in front of her potbellied stove with a good book and two weeks later she is off to Israel or on some other adventure.   In my eyes she is fearless.  Her example is what gave me the courage to tackle Boston on my own.  Mostly... she is my friend.

I am not one to stick with blue for boys and pink for girls.  I like to mix it up some.  I try to knit something different for each baby.  When Cam told me her second grandbaby was going to be a girl  I knew immediately it had to be....

pink!

So, you might think this is the end of this story.  No, not so!  A couple of weeks ago, I get an email from my friend telling me her second son and his wife are expecting their first baby and they just found out it is a boy.  

So in honor of Cam, I've put on my 

celtic music  and, I think with a the name of Liam it has to be....

It's a surprise!

Cam is my friend, and I am blessed.

Just Another Story

 

Sunday I wrote about my trip to the local Farmer's Market.   I think I have mentioned before I am very picky when it comes to choosing vendors.  I want to know where my food comes from and who grows it, otherwise, I might as well just stop in at the local grocery store.

One of my favorite vendors is "the peach lady".   She has a name and her stall is not named "the peach lady", but honestly, I don't know either.  Shame on me!  I met her last year and spent several minutes chatting with her about her peaches.   She is passionate about what she brings to market; and, she is willing to share her passion with anyone who will listen. Her enthusiasm and her smile is contagious.

She does not have peach orchards, but gets her fruit from a local peach grower she refers to as "my peach man" (hum....maybe this is why I call her "the peach lady").  The variety of peach changes as the summer progresses.  Each Saturday morning I look forward to stopping and chatting about the peach of the day.  

While we talk, I am touching and smelling, trying to find the bowl of fruit I want to take home, all the while she is filling a bowl choosing one or two from various containers sitting around on the table.  Once I've made what I think to be the perfect selection and hand it to her, she takes out several of mine and replaces them with the peaches she has been collecting during our conversation.  After she has placed each one in a bag, she turns her back to me, bends down and takes out one peach from a box sitting on the ground. She brings it up, holding it ever so gently between her thumb and middle finger.  Showing me this treasure she says, "I'm going to put this one in your bag.  Make sure it is the last one you eat, now, you hear me?  It's not ready yet", shaking her head from one side to the other always smiling, " but it will be when the others are gone.  Oh,h,h it will be so,o,o good ."

Okay, I know once peaches are picked they do not get sweeter as they ripen, but that last peach does always seem to taste the sweetest.

Well, now you know.   I not only bring home food to feed the body, but sustenance for the soul as well.  One will be consumed and gone by the end of the week, the other will leave its mark for a lifetime. 

 Thanks for sitting with me and allowing me to tell

yet another story of an extraordinary someone

found in a most ordinary someplace. 

They are all around us. 

(Iced mint green tea and a peach scone)

 

Baby Boy

In February I showed you a project I was working on while off enjoying a snow day.   I couldn't go into much detail;  I didn't want to spoil the surprise.  I never know who is lurking around my blog.

Be honest, I bet you knew all along it was a baby blanket.

This was so much fun to knit because I didn't know if I was knitting for a boy or a girl.  I love to think about the baby and the family while I am knitting.  Sometimes I would imagine a little girl dressed in pink all wrapped up in the blanket.  Other times I would think of a little boy napping on the blanket holding a favorite "lovey".

The wait is over.  A precious baby boy was born Wednesday.  All that was left for me to do was to gently lay the blanket in a box.

Wrap it in the perfect paper and ribbon fit for a Prince

and deliver it to my dear friend.

Welcome to the world precious baby boy.  May you always sleep peacefully  and have sweet dreams.   With Love!

(I can't tell you how much enjoyment I receive from this.)