A Mother's Touch

It's been many years since my Mother passed...

Today I pause and think of all she did as a Mother.  

She never made a decision that didn't account 

for how it would effect myself & my brothers, even in the end, 

she was thinking of how we would go forward.

Memory is a funny thing, 

but for me, 

one of the things I can always picture is my Mother's hands.

What makes that memory so strong; 

her touch from those first moments of life, 

her hands holding so steadily as I was learning to walk on my own, 

both figuratively and physically, 

always watching them at work or play 

(cooking, cleaning, sewing, crafting, driving, reading,

 playing cards, drinking coffee, 

helping my dad, paying the bills, even smoking).

Watching them throughout the things that filled our day 

in and out, day after day, year after year.

Images of specific moments fade in and out 

but in all the things that filled our life, 

I can always remember my Mother's Hands.

 

I wish I had this image of my own Mother's hands...

but instead they are of another young mother, very special to me.

My brother's wife Denice...

they represent the touch I remember, 

that many remember...warm & comforting memories.

Americana in December

Most folks have heard the saying 'Christmas in July',

well I'm writing about Americana in December,

 a tribute to my friend

Diana of  'The Faded Geranium'.

Diana is making a bittersweet life change.  

She's going to be the full time 'nanny' for her great-grandchildren.

She'll have a new great-grand-baby asleep in her arms

and a cuddle of others playing near by...what could be sweeter?

To accomplish this sweet change, she will be closing her shop

"The Faded Geranium" 

... the 'bitter' in bittersweet.

Her favorite 'style' is Americana, as you can see by these 'snaps'

of  Diana and The Faded Geranium last July 4rh.  

Once she gets settled in her 'nanny' role, 

Diana will be selling on line...so we will be watching for more

Faded Geraniums!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can't close an Americana post without another picture of

 'Old Glory', 

though sold & moved to a new home, still close at heart. 

 I also have to include a couple more snaps of 

 these dear little patriots.

Here they are on a lovely warm July 4th, only a few months ago...

 ...and only a few more months to the next warm days.

Christmas and a lot of other wonderful 'things' in between, 

but the warmth of summer only a few months away.

From Beyond the Clouds

I just read the Thanksgiving Day "Thanks" Marian Parsons

wrote on her blog Miss Mustard Seed (http://missmustardseed.com/).

It made me realize that there was one more

 'Thanks' I left off of my post from yesterday.

I have been fortunate to have Divine Intervention keep my life

from going totally off kilter after my own

"well thought out plans"!

My mother used to say 

"The Good Lord watches out for his idiots."

and I'm sure there were times

when thought I was at the top of his list.

Now she and my father are both Beyond the Clouds, 

giving Him a hand watching out for my 'plans'.

Here's sending little thoughts and prayers for

family and friends who could use a little

          Divine Intervention during this hectic Holy-day Season.          

 

My cup runneth over...

Today I am home, planning to spend this holiday with family...

a gift indeed.

This fall I had a chance to spend a week in North Carolina,

helping with and attending my niece's wedding...

treasured memories.

This summer a small group of old 'chums' gathered for 

an evening to dine and talk and remember.

We caught up on our own lives, and the lives of the children that 

have been born and grown and are now older than when we

first started 'hanging out'...

a rare and wonderful chance to reach back to old

treasured memories and build new ones.

 

Last spring I spent another week between North Carolina

and Florida with family and 'the nephew to be',

getting to meet some of his family,

playing at Disneyworld,

Para-sailing for the first time...

experiences and shared moments

 that are filled with immeasurable value.

At different times in the year, I have been afforded opportunities

 to talk with friends and family 

far and near, all as close as a cell phone away...

sharing a connection that time and distance does not challenge.

A little over a year ago I started this blog and

 in spite of my lack of faithful entry, 

I have family and friends who ask me to write more....

a support that comforts me and sustains me.

A little before that I opened my little 'booth' 

where sell my little 'wares'.

In so doing, I have met wonderful people and made new friends...

they are new silver in my treasure trove.

I have had the gift of time to chat and share with friends;

shopping trips to favorite haunts with those who share

my penchant for 'old';

 an adventurous scavenger hunt 

to the coast where rust was the treasure of the day;

we have had morning coffee, afternoon tea, ice cream in the sun;

some have cooked for me, we have dined out together...

I have been sated by the pleasure of good company.

I have a job that sustains me financially

 and in so many other ways...

I see the strength of the human spirit facing

the challenges of compromised health, a damaged body, 

loss of a loved one, or a life envisioned.

I see the power of the human connection in my

co-workers who continually surprise me

with the breadth of the ability to give of themselves...

At the end of the day,

 I know it is a blessing to just be able to go home.

I sit here in the comfort of my warm and quiet living room while

 others struggle against great challenges such as the destruction of

hurricane Sandy, or the bombing in the middle east

 and countless other personal, social, or environmental events

that are beyond my ken.

This evening I will enjoy the blessing of home and hearth

and for this  and all that I have been given through this year, 

I give heartfelt thanks to Heaven...

and lift up those who are facing challenges on this day of 

Thanksgiving.

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses...

none of them good!

 

Instead of trying to give lame excuses for not posting since March.

I'll just tell you about my most recent adventure. 

I took a Jeneric vacation for the first 2 weeks in May.

I spent it with my brother & his wife in NC & Florida.  

  Jene + Eric = Jeneric!

(They also have Jeneric children.)

Jene & Eric had scoped out a couple of antique shops

 and they knew I'd love them...

and of course I wanted to check them out...

and of course I did love them...

and of course I bought some stuff...

and of course I wish I could have bought more!

(Why do those flights have to have baggage limits anyway?)

Eric had to work those first few shopping days in NC 

but when he was done with work on Thursday 

we headed east to the beach.

We arrived in Myrtle Beach well after dark
 so couldn't really see anything.

However, we woke on Friday to a glorious, sunny morning.

The beach was beautiful and the 'crowds' really non-existent.

 So what else would we do but go Para-sailing!

 It was a first for all 3 of us.

It was a thrill.

It was great to share this experience.

 It was a good day.

 I know this picture is small..,
but given the amount of non-tan skin hanging out,
 it's actually the perfect size!

  Friday evening we headed south,

arriving in Disneyworld Saturday morning.

 We had a week long Jeneric Celebration.

in honor of their 25th Wedding Anniversary.

I feel very fortunate to have had this time to spend with them 

and appreciate being included in this great trip. 

As Eric & Jene were celebrating their 25years,
 Cory & Teri were just beginning their 25year adventure...

And along with all of this celebration
 we also had time for plain ol'silly-n-fun!

After years of reading and sharing many Star Wars books
Nick & I finally got a chance to visit one of our favorite
lands far far away...and...

I have to thank Nick for being so obliging with

 his ol'Auntie's request for this picture!

I have a lot of pictures in my camera and

many more in my memory but more importantly, 

I came home with a heart full of love & joy.

Aren't we lucky 

to have hearts with an endless capacity for both...

 I can't wait for the next time we can get together.

Will it be when there are Wedding Bells Ringing?

Hope you'll keep checking back for my next post

when I'll share about plans for our upcoming Vintage Faire!
...and I promise it will be soon!

Beginning

Today is October First.  (Happy Birthday, Mom!)   Her name was Arlyce and she was a consummate crafter! Today would have been my Mother's 75th birthday, however, she will be forever 53.   I grew up with her sewing and crocheting or glueing and pasting, all the while raising our family and being part of the traditional work force.   She lost her battle with Breast Cancer in 1990, but she  has not failed to inspire me from her heavenly 'digs'.  No surprise, the fruit falls close to the tree...here I am in a traditional career, with an ambition to transition to something more creative.

I wanted to chose Mom's birthday to launch my 'blog'.  But as my profile mentions, I am playing the 'Tortoise' in this career changing path.  I still have to get a camera so that I can add pictures...Hope you come back to see what's 'brewing'.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I wear some shade of pink every day of the month.  I have had a couple people ask me if it's my 'uniform'.  This just opens the opportunity for me to talk about the importance of self exam and giving some kind of financial support to research, no matter how small.  

  

I leave with the hope that more and more of 'us' will be spared the destructive forces of Breast Cancer.    If not, I hope you find the support you need through the trials you face.   In my mind, I wrap you in the pink banner of hope and keep you all in my heart as you fight this invasive enemy.