Happy Birthday, Lydia!

Hope it is the very best!

Just 3 Things | #30

This week seems to be full of blossoms and blessings! My pink African Violets have been blooming their hearts out! About a month ago I had that promise from one and it has burst forth with those promised blooms. This is one of the baby plants that I separated and moved the pot to my office. That linked photo really didn't have me anticipating that it would become this beautiful. Granny's eyes would be twinkling with smiles if she could see it now.

The parent plant has also bloomed and both of them are really beautiful right now. It is hard to believe that the original plant was just a little thing that was part of a basket with several plants that was delivered to Granny's funeral back in 2014. That little violet has brought a smile to my face many times over the years. This past week had several sorts of flowers bring me smiles.

- What I've Been Loving -

Last weekend saw me counting my many blessings. I spent a couple of hours visiting with my Mama. We got caught up on what all has been going on in the small town where she and her husband live - a couple of their favorite Mom and Pop restaurants have closed. One had a bit of gossip attached to it with the mother-in-law holding ownership of the building but the daughter-in-law and her son were divorcing so that meant the end of the Meat and Three. Then, there was a fire on the last day of business and it seems somebody went to jail. While the story was eyebrow raising, I do hate that the joint closed as the food was good and it was close by to Mom's house for a quick and delicious meal. Maybe a new operator will occupy the space soon. Fingers crossed.

Then, on Sunday morning, the grands who live next door made a delivery of a beautiful pot of flowers and stayed for about a half hour to sit and chat. I learned about their upcoming field day and rewards day and a field trip. I also learned who thinks they know all about things and who thinks about all the things and who really knows about all the things. We chatted and enjoyed our front porch rocking and visiting for a good twenty minutes before the eldest remembered that he had left the ATV idling in the back. Whoops! They scrambled around to the back yard and piled into the ATV and off up the hill they rode. I'm still smiling when I think about all of that!

My daughter and most of her family visited after lunch. They also came in bearing blooms. Their terra cotta pot held a beautiful and vibrant red geranium. Their visit revealed that the two younger girls still have the dregs of school to finish out their year. Then, one will start her summer job as a concessionaire at the local pool and the other will wrap up softball season and have volleyball camp. The eldest was working hard for her money at their local Tractor Supply Company. So, I'm guessing the days will not be a big change for her grown up self. The Mister and I enjoyed their visit and catching up on all that they have going on. 

The next crew through the door was my son and his family. They delivered a beautiful floral flag and then, we got the down low about the baseball tournament that the eldest had played in on the previous day. We also learned from him that having dad as a coach is not always a bad thing - other coaches can be harder to play for according to his insight. We also got to see a picture and hear a bit about the newest girlfriend. We learned that she, "checks all the boxes," and even has little sister's stamp of approval. The youngest let us know that she had achieved high scores by reading loads of books during her school year and she had to show me her newest book series that she is working through. The concession stand at the ball park had suffered for business the previous day, I'm sure. She had opted to stay with her Granny and they took flowers to the cemeteries to honor loved ones that had gone on to their rewards. Granny's snack supply might have a big dent in it, though, because she was chillin' with a coverlet, a book, and something to nibble and something to sip when she was picked up to go home. The Mister and I were glad to have the shared time and get all the updates from their busy lives as well.

Like any self-respecting parent and grandparent, the visits are cherished and their time for us is really appreciated. There is nothing as precious as time spent together and the opportunity to see and visit with family. 

- What I've Been Reading -

When I read The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, I made a mental note to see if the author had something else I might want to read. Then, one of my lists that offers reading suggestions and discounts listed The Summer Before the War as a suggestion. I've barely started this one but I already recognize the author's style and why I enjoyed that first period novel. I will warn you that I can already tell another of her books will soon join my want-to-read stack. I visited the author webpage and read the About page and I think I can understand why I feel a kinship to her. Simonson states, "If you are looking for overnight success, writing may just be the slowest possible route – but as a woman who did not publish until the age of forty five, I hope I am living proof that it is never too late to follow your passion, or find a new vocation." 

via

I've always been a reader and a writer. As I told my children last Sunday, I don't think I can ever remember a single day in my lifetime that I didn't yearn to read and maybe not a day when I didn't read as well. Like Simonson, I also started my career, that of an educator, later in life. So, maybe that has made us kindred spirits, as Anne of Green Gables might say. 

- What I've Been Working On -

I wouldn't really call it work but I guess it took the place of work I could have been doing... I played with my new sewing machine to try out the different embroidery motifs. I ordered some cup towels and some hand towels and thought that might make good gifts. The cup towels are the very basic kind that have a blue stripe woven in that runs down both sides and the fabric has a sort of flour sack feel to it.

Blue E Monogrammed Cup Towel

I started with the same alphabet that I had used for the napkins that I began my learning journey with. It is a beautiful alphabet and looks really pretty on something simple like these cup towels. I used the primary colors that I originally bought as my crayon box of thread colors. This project became a Mother's Day gift for my Mama. She is the one who taught me that even practical things can be pretty.

E Monogrammed Cup Towel with Flowers

The second cup towel that I did for her used a different alphabet and I think it just looks like something she would love. She has always loved and nurtured flowers in her yard and she has always featured floral designs in her home decor. This one just looks like a bouquet. I used the guide that came with the book and those recommended colors. I love how it turned out and that really helped me to see that a variety of colors could be used with this alphabet to show off different seasons or different room colorways.

Erwin Cup Towel with Fall Flowers

I liked this flower motif and used the recommended colors suggested by the guide that came with the machine. I think it looks sort of fall-ish but those colors would be pretty in any season. I learned to move the design around within the hoop. I scooted the design down near the bottom of the hoop. Then, I moved it up an inch or so. That left me room to use one of the simple alphabets and add the name below the flowers. So, this project was a fun teaching tool as well as a creative outlet that I could share with my mom.

Tone on Tone E Monogrammed Hand Towel

For the hand towels, I figured she might use those in one of her bathrooms. So, I kept the colors very basic and simple to work in any of the baths in her house. I am a lover of white towels with an ecru or tan monogram. However, Mama tends to like tans and ecrus. So, I got some tan terry cloth towels and used an ecru thread for the stitching. This is the same alphabet as the first cup towel. I just stopped and didn't add the flowers.

Basic E Monogrammed Hand Towel

For this second option, I used the alphabet that I had used for writing out the name on the cup towel with the lilies. I learned to enlarge the lettering. So, when writing a name, I used the pre-programmed letter size. However, for this hand towel, I bumped up the size to the largest possible size. 

Block Letter E Monogrammed Hand Towel

For the final hand towel, I used the block alphabet that had all of the flowers interwoven like the cup towel with the turquoise letter and multicolored flowers shown above on the cup towel. Again, I just stopped the machine and didn't add any flowers to this one. The simplicity of it, yet, the boldness of the block lettering seems to capture a classic look to me.

Practicing on these towels helped to build my confidence and taught me several different things about my new machine. I probably could sit with it every single day and create something different using the simple pre-programmed designs. Plus, it is so fun to just touch the buttons and watch it go to work stitching something that turns out beautiful! So, I wouldn't really call this work - maybe it fits into that old saying, "Find something you really love and it won't feel like work."

The Mister has brought home a beautiful pink geranium, some Cilantro and Rosemary plants, and a bag of potting soil that I requested. So, I'm off to the back porch to begin filling some of my empty pots. My gimpy leg has made me have a late start on planting this year. I have sowed some Zinnia seeds in an old trough near the basement door and I noticed that several of them have green leaves that have surfaced. So, I'm excited about that. 

I hope your weekend is blooming with good things that bring big smiles to your face. Happy Friday!

Today I noticed...Supporting another person's success will never ruin yours.

Success seems to look different to different people. I think that's alright.

I'm sure that what I feel as a successful venture may seem like peanuts to somebody else. Yet, I am free to feel and celebrate that success as I'd like. 

Why don't we look for the success of others and cheer for that? 

Why can't we be glad for them and, if possible, support them as they are working toward that goal?

Chances are that their goal marking success is not going to be the same as mine anyway. 

Reach out and help lift someone up!

Getting Cultured Up

I attended an event last week that enriched my life in a couple of ways. 

Our granddaughter, Lydia, plays the alto saxophone in the Huntsville Concert Band. They practice once per week for a couple of hours. The musicians are all volunteers and range in age from high school students to retirement age. There are more than eighty members of the band and they were wonderful!

Huntsville is about a two-hour drive from our house. So, I was southbound and down, as they say. When I arrived, I circled the church building's parking lot and found a parking space within sight of the entryway. I climbed down out of my truck and noticed a little white haired lady parked across from me climbing out of her car and steadying herself with her cane. She slung her purse over her shoulder and looked up at me. "Are you here for the band performance?" she queried. I smiled and told her that I certainly was. She wondered where the entry door could be found. I pointed northward and told her that I saw a UHaul truck around the corner and was headed in that direction in anticipation that it had hauled the larger instruments on site. So, we crept across the parking lot together. Me in my boot and her with her cane to steady herself. 

I asked her if she had a relative playing in the day's concert and she told me, "No. I just enjoy music. I went to the symphony across town last night." She asked me if I had a relative playing and I told her that our Lydia is playing. She asked what instrument Lydia played and I told her. "Alto Sax...," she said. "I had a friend when we were middle school age and she played the saxophone. We walked to school together. Most everybody walked to school in those days. We didn't have fancy buses to haul us. My friend was just a little slip of a thing and that sax was a big old instrument. So, she put it in a little red wagon and we stacked our books in there and took turns pulling it down the road. The other kids poked fun at us at first but we didn't care. It was a lot better than toting all that weight and straining our backs." She gave a little giggle. She added, "Sometimes this sort of thing is not well attended. So, I like to support them. I don't have a lot going on these days I like to help fill a seat. It looks like there is a pretty good crowd here today, though."

We hobbled inside and were greeted by my daughter, Bridgette, who had been drafted to look after the donations jar. So, I introduced her as the mother of our musician. The room was quite full and I took a seat in the back row beside where Bridgette had left her bag. The next thing I knew, here was my new friend asking if it was alright for her to sit beside me and I encouraged her to make herself comfortable I noticed that she tapped her foot and bobbed her head from time to time during the concert but she sat silently and took it all in. 

When the last note had sounded and thanks and applause had silenced, I felt a hand on my elbow. My new friend said, "I know that you are proud of your granddaughter. They were wonderful today. I think I enjoyed this even more than the fancy symphony last night. Please give her praise from me and a thanks for brightening my ears and my day. I'm sure you will want to wait and give her a hug, So, I'm going to mosey on out to the parking lot and head home. Thanks for the company!"

I enjoyed having a friendly face and person beside me who seemed to be enjoying the performance as much as I did. The concert featured a variety of selections that appealed to a broad spectrum of patrons. They were a big band and had a Big Band sound and the performance added a sense of cultural relevance to all of our lives that afternoon playing old familiar tunes, adding in a bit of humor, and winding up with a patriotic flare. 

On my trek back north toward home, I thought a lot about my new friend. I gave a little prayer of thanks for her and for the fact that she could still get out and about to soak up something that she enjoys. She made me think of my Great Aunt Mae who lived alone for many years and would often support cultural events in her hometown. I'm sure she was probably a lot like that little lady. I thought about how thankful I am that Lydia has this opportunity to spend time doing something she loves and share it with others. I also lifted a bit of thanks for the folks who performed and shared their gift of music for all of us...especially for my new friend who certainly had something going on last Sunday.

Happy Mother's Day!

I am blessed to be surrounded by a group of wonderful mothers. 

Mama  has always been the heart who made our house a wonderful and welcoming home. I am ever grateful for the examples she set for me. I hope she has a Mother's Day as wonderful as she is!

The other wonderful mothers who surround me are the mothers of our grandchildren. We see all that you do and are grateful for you every single day. Thank you for all the joy that you have brought to our lives!

Bridgette

Jessica

Bonnie

Laura

Happy Mother's Day!

Here is a sweet message.

Just 3 Things | #29

Rain! Glorious rain! We got a good rain this week and our hay field was never more happy. The temperatures cooled down to be more spring-like as well. In fact, a couple of days the temperatures required a sweatshirt. The good thing is that on one of the rainiest of days I got a good ole nap snoring whilst sitting in a chair with my feet propped up and a quilt thrown across me. I read a while on a book, nodded off, grabbed a quilt, and enjoyed some snoozing. Ah! Now, that is the life!

- What I've Been Watching -

We are sports enthusiasts around here. Of course, the sports we love to watch the most are the ones that our grandchildren are participating in during various seasons. We also enjoy SEC sports events, especially when my alma mater is playing. Go Big Orange! What kicked off the week for us, though, had nothing to do with either of those. I've always been one who tried not to miss the Kentucky Derby. The horses are beautiful and majestic, jockeys are awe-inspiring as they navigate the field, the trainers are interesting to listen to as they describe the work they do, the hats are a work of art, the garments people wear vary from beautiful to ridiculous, and the analysis and pageantry of the entire event is amazing. 

Sports Illustrated

This year's run for the roses was truly a special one to be able to witness. The main horse race lived up to it's description, "the most exciting two minutes in sports." The trainer made history - the first woman trainer to have a horse win the derby. The winning horse, Golden Tempo had 23-1 odds of winning the race and was, in fact at the very back of the pack of eighteen horses until jockey, Jose Ortiz began navigating him toward the front. Ortiz barely beat out his older brother, Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding Renegade and immediately reached his hand out to bump the fists after crossing the finish line. Golden Tempo is a descendent of famed Secretariat and was Kentucky bred and owned by Phipps Stables in partnership with Saint Elias Stable. 

Lexington Herald-Leader

As we watched the Derby on television, the Mister and I picked the horses we thought would win. Neither of us picked the winner but that didn't stop us from watching with amazement and excitement as we saw Golden Tempo going from last to first making it the most exciting two minutes in sports, for sure!

- What I've Been Reading -

I abandoned a book this week. That is something I rarely do. For some reason, this one was a book that I just had a difficult time settling in and reading. The one I dove into afterward was nothing like it and I had a hard time putting it down to do the chores I really needed to get done. The summary said, "A woman’s surprising inheritance opens the door to her family’s secrets in a moving novel about healing, forgiveness, and second chances." Don't we all dream of a rich aunt that we didn't even know we had leaving us an inheritance? 

Wake-Up Calls

- What I've Been Working On -

I've been nursing my bad leg this week; so, all the things I've been working on have been sit-around type of jobs. I sort of learned my lesson last week and figured out that it is just easier to sit around with the leg propped up than to wear that frustrating boot. I spent some time catching up on my volunteer work, organizing and preparing reports for the upcoming annual membership meeting. The returns from the mailout announcing the meeting have been steadily coming in at a couple or three per day. So, I've been making calls and trying to update the mailing list for next year. Of course, when folks get correspondence from the Board of Trustees like the announcement postcard, they tend to think of questions and so more phone calls are generated. 

I also spent a little time doing a bit of online shopping. We usually send a little treat to our daughters and daughters-in-law for Mother's Day. So, I visited the Buff City Soap site and picked some fragrant treats for them to pamper themselves with from there. We have a couple of graduates on our gift list this year and there is an upcoming birthday in our family next week as well. I far prefer to shop online than trek out to different stores searching for just the right thing. So, that was 'work' that I didn't mind tackling. 

We are looking forward to a quiet weekend here at home during the next couple of days. Of course, I will give my mother a visit and toast her for Mother's Day. The Mister is riding the mower as I finish up this post to polish up the grounds around here so that when we get a chance to porch sit and relax it is like looking out at a well-manicured park. I hope you are enjoying scenic views and pampering a special someone this weekend or being pampered as a special someone.

Today I noticed...Shopping Carts

 What one does with a shopping cart when the shopping is done tells a lot about a person.

Did you know that there is all sort of research about shopping carts being returned. There have been studies about whether a person returns the shopping cart or pushes it to the cart corral or whether there is an incentive for returning a shopping cart or not makes a difference or what other factors might feed into why or when a person returns a shopping cart. There is even an established shopping cart theory. Who knew?!

Something I was reading referenced The Shopping Cart Theory. Then, I noticed that there were some other links offered regarding the psychology around the return of shopping carts. There's even a YouTube channel devoted to the concept. (Is there just a YouTube video for anything and everything?) A research and teaching fellow even shared her hours of research findings and categorizing of excuses. 

What prompted me to even scan through the links shared above is what I observed while sitting in our local grocery store parking lot when I went to pick up my prescription the other day and had to wait for it. Most of the people I saw either returned their cart inside to the front of the store or left it in the corral provided there in the parking lot. A few, however, did not.

One young woman wrestled with one cart loaded with groceries and another filled with three very small children. She loaded the groceries into the back of her SUV, dragged the cart of children behind her as she returned the empty cart to the corral, returned to her car wrestling with her children and got them squared away in their car safety seats, then, left the empty cart propped up on the closest curb. She let out a huge sigh, climbed into the driver's seat and drove away. 

A guy who had a couple of boxes of baked goods, a case of water, and a couple of six-packs of soft drinks rushed to his vehicle, loaded his wares into the trunk of his car, and shoved the cart across the empty spaces nearby. Then, he proceeded to climb into the driver's seat, back out of the space, narrowly missing another shopper with a cart and sped away.

A third patron emptied the cart, pushed it over to rest against the bumper of a car nearby, climbed into his vehicle and drove away.

Then, I saw a young person - probably a teenager - pause and help a woman with a cane load a couple of bags of groceries and a plant into the back seat of her car before pushing her cart into the store.

I only spent about fifteen minutes observing the shopping cart rodeo in the parking lot of our local grocery store but I really did think that each person I saw told me a little bit about themselves during that short timeframe. It made me think about the way I want to behave the next time I'm in the parking lot and what I will do when I see a loose cart there. 

Election Day - Vote!

I hope you do, too!

 

A Deep Dive Down the Rabbit Hole

The other day after I shared What I've Been Reading, I did a bit more 'research' to learn more about the author of the cookbook that I've been reading. I guess it started with idle curiosity and wound up to be more like an old-fashioned research paper for me. (Remember, I was an English teacher in years past...) So, after a call to my Mama and sharing some of what I'd learned with her, I decided to just devote a post here to capture my findings. So, here goes...a summary of information gleaned from my deep dive down the rabbit hole to learn more about Miss Daisy.

Tennessee Homecoming Cookbook

Miss Daisy King is referenced by multiple sources as "Tennessee's First Lady of Southern Cooking." Martha Sundquist, Tennessee's First Lady at the time of publication for the cookbook celebrating Tennessee's 200th state birthday, states in the forward of Miss Daisy Celebrates Tennessee that Miss Daisy King was nationally known by that title. The cookbook combines southern recipes with historical facts about Tennessee's people, places, and counties making it a cultural and culinary guide to Tennessee. The historical content was researched and contributed by James H. Crutchfield, a historian and Winette Sparkman, a teacher and heritage consultant. The book was released in 1995 and was inspired by Daisy King's experience as one of several people tapped by then governor, Lamar Alexander, to travel throughout the state in a year-long traveling celebration involving a twelve-car passenger train, the Homecoming '86 Special. King served as editor of The Original Tennessee Homecoming Cookbook, that was sold during that 1986 celebration. The book cover tells us that when it was announced by Alexander that there would be a giant state-wide celebration, "people from all across the state contributed more than 3000 recipes," and the Homecoming Cookbook features "the best of those recipes as selected and edited by Daisy King."  So, in essence, a cookbook inspired the author to write another cookbook which includes historical content and information. Inspiration comes from all sorts of places doesn't it?

- Just a little side note, I wonder what states are doing this year to commemorate the 250th birthday of our nation? I have read about a few different things that are happening but nothing like a whistle stop train tour of the state to inspire folks patriotically.

Miss Daisy Celebrates Tennessee

Neither of these were King's first foray into authoring a cookbook, however. Catering was King's entry into the food business. She and a friend hosted a French-inspired picnic in observance of Bastille Day in 1974. At the time, evidently, this was not an ordinary event for the small town of Brentwood, Tennessee, and a writer for The Tennessean, Nashville's daily newspaper, crafted a full-page spread, complete with color photos and recipes. The expose caught the eye of developers Calvin and Marilyn LeHew who were building a small shopping center just a bit south of Daisy King's home in Franklin. Calvin had visions of a tearoom serving as the centerpiece of the shopping center and convinced King to "bring it to life." Miss Daisy's Tea Room became a popular spot for ladies-who-lunch and she was consistently asked to share her recipes. King was always generous and would even scribble recipes on the back of receipts for patrons to the point that LeHew "told her he would start charging the customers 10 cents a recipe, and urged her to pen a cookbook." So, with the help of Marilyn LeHew, King created Recipes from Miss Daisy’s, her first cookbook.

Recipes from Miss Daisy's

The original cookbook shown above was followed up by Miss Daisy Entertains. By the time this little cookbook came out in the early 1980s, King had opened a full-service restaurant in the Green Hills area of Nashville that enjoyed success for ten years. "Outposts subsequently launched in Bellevue and Church Street malls failed," however. Miss Daisy said, “You learn by your mistakes,” and was instrumental in the start of an entirely different sort of restaurant in Nashville.

Miss Daisy Entertains

Miss Daisy King wrote a total of fourteen cookbooks and served as a consultant for companies such as Swift Meats and Pillsbury over the years as well. She and a friend were founding members of a local chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International, a non-profit dedicated to supporting women in food and hospitality through scholarship and mentorship. “It’s our job to lead the way for women,” she’d say.

King led the way for many women in the middle Tennessee area by embracing change. She pivoted her own business from restaurant to 'store-within-a-store' in 1992 offering prepared-to-go appetizers, soups, casseroles, dressings, and desserts within Grassland Foodland. Later, her business moved closer to where she first began meeting, greeting, and feeding customers in Franklin and is still known as Miss Daisy's Market, a charming take-out spot known for heartwarming southern cuisine.

Daisy Mae Pass was born in Buford Georgia and was only six years old when she made her first pound cake with her grandmother. Her parents passed away before she reached the age of six, so, she was raised by her grandparents in Gainesville, Georgia. They are credited with teaching her to appreciate the freshness of ingredients by gathering vegetables from their large garden and performing other farm chores. Her grandmother taught her to cook and instilled a love for the culinary arts within her. 

In high school, Daisy made an impression on visiting Belmont University President, Herbert Gabhart, who invited her to come to Nashville to take a look at Belmont’s offerings. She did and majored in home economics and minored in speech, communication, and journalism. As a senior at Belmont, one of her professor's died and she took over teaching two classes, one was planning food budgets for the month, and the other was family and child care. Later, she also taught at Saint Bernard Academy, a private girls' school in Nashville. Before graduating Belmont in 1967, she met the man who would become her husband shortly after graduation, Wayne King. She was a devoted wife and mother of two sons, Kevin, and Patrick, who was born during the early years of the tearoom at Carters Court. 

Daisy Mae Pass King's love of Tennessee, Williamson County, and the folks of Franklin grew fonder and fonder. She said, "they embraced me as their very own and made a Georgia girl feel right at home!" Despite the heartbreak of outliving her husband and children, Miss Daisy remained ever-optimistic, gracious, and endearing and will always be Tennessee’s First Lady of Southern Cooking living on through her cookbooks and many shared recipes for good southern food.

I really enjoyed learning more about this cookbook author and her life. I fondly remember dining at Miss Daisy's Tearoom as a young woman, seeing her on television sharing her cooking skills, and have enjoyed so many recipes from her cookbooks over the years. I look forward to stirring up some dishes from the cookbook I have and will be on the lookout for a couple more. Plus, I am learning more about the history of my home state as a result of reading Miss Daisy Celebrates Tennessee!

Just 3 Things | #28

This week has found me out of sorts. I've been gimping around for a while. I discovered that somehow I have developed Achilles Tendonitis and I'm not just old, decrepit, and worn out. When I noticed that I had developed a big lump on the back of my ankle, I went to our local Bone and Joint Institute. Honestly, I thought I'd be told that this was just a by-product of aging, learn to live with it, perform some stretches and exercises, and have a nice day. So, when that wasn't the conversation I had with the physician's assistant, I was a bit surprised. Then, when I returned for my follow up visit this past week and had not progressed toward wellness much, he fitted me with a boot. He told me to wear it if I was going to do much walking at all - like more steps than from my bed to the closest bathroom. Boy! I was shocked. I was also sort of depressed, after all, who wants to be told to stay off your feet or to have to wear that uncomfortable, bundle-some, unattractive boot? We all like to loll around from time to time but nobody wants to be forced into inactivity. So, I've been trying to follow instructions and keep my foot propped up, ice my ankle several times per day, and perform the exercises as instructed by the physical therapist I was sent to see. 

- What I've Been Loving -

I've done a bit of house loving this week. Things around here have been tidy for the most part and that always makes loving where we live easier doesn't it? For the past couple of years I've been working to get every space around here organized and I also think that makes a big difference when it comes to house loving. That old saying, "a space for everything and everything in its space" really does ring true to me. When we revamped our primary bathroom, I did a major cleanout and invested in clear storage bins to help me corral the clutter that happens in bathroom vanities and closets. I did the same thing in the kitchen when we revamped it a couple of years ago. As we are 'reclaiming' the basement, I'm trying to apply the same principals. So, this week, while I was trying to give my ankle a rest, it was nice to have a tidy space where I could really feel at peace and not see fifty-eleven-hundred things that needed doing. It is nice to have a bedroom with lots of windows that let in the sunlight and provide pastural views. It is nice to have a comfy chair with a stool to prop my feet upon and a retired lifestyle that allows for self-care.

We really are blessed to have a beautiful place to live. The farm is usually pretty peaceful and we have plenty of privacy and places to decompress and rejuvenate. Yes, there is a lot of responsibility in caring for a farm and all that comes with it but, somehow, most days it seems like a privilege and not a burden. Yes, we still grumble from time to time when limbs are blown from the trees or a fence needs repair, but we generally do look at having the opportunity to care for this place is a blessing. 

So, this week while I was tasked with sitting around and propping my sore ankle up onto an ice pack and not free to putter around or dig in and clean out a space that needs organizing and clearing out, I've really been loving and appreciating our house and the fellow who steps up to help keep it tidy and comfortable.

- What I've Been Reading -

The good thing about forced restfulness is that it provides plenty of time to read! Here's a few books that I've had my nose in:

Upstairs at the White House

The author was chief usher at the White House for nearly three decades. Imagine what he must have seen! He tells some of it in these pages. His experiences range from time with behind the scenes looks during six presidential administrations - from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Richard M. Nixon. I truly enjoyed the inside look and would give it four out of five stars!

The Summer Guests

An unusual group of folks are gathered together in one place when the threat of a hurricane forces the evacuation of people and animals to a farm. Everyone seems to learn what is really important in life during the week of riding out the storm. To me it was sort of a look at how the wealthy might hunker down somewhere with friends when a hurricane threatens. I enjoyed it but it made me wonder what the story might be like for those less fortunate. I'd give it three out of five stars. 

The Forget-Me-Not Libraary

"A detour. A chance encounter. Two women who alter the pages of each other's story." I really enjoyed how the stories unfolded bit by bit throughout the book. It was a light read that I enjoyed enough to give it four out of five stars.

Miss Daisy Celebrates Tennessee

This is one left behind by my mother-in-law. When I pulled it out there were sticky spots on the cover and I had to wipe it down before I could even stand to hold it and read through it! I think that tells just what a wonderful treasure this cookbook is! I remember when Miss Daisy's Tea Room opened in Carter's Court in my hometown back in 1974. It was the perfect place for ladies-who-lunch, you know, those times for meeting for lunch, drinking iced fruit tea, sharing a casserole and salad, and dishing up all the news that is news. Inspiration for this cookbook came after she toured the state and decided to work with her co-authors to relate Tennessee's history through regional recipes, customs, and stories. If I ever wrote a cookbook, this is the kind of book I would hope it turned out to be - one that shares stories and information as well as a guide for really good food. It will take me a while to work through this one again but it will be worth every minute I have my nose between the pages. Of course, it earns a five star rating from me!

An Affair with a House

I go back to this one time and time again and am thankful to have it in my own library of hardback books. I love how Bunny Williams really does describe her pleasures and challenges to creating a country retreat from the world. I think my favorite thing is that she tells that an ancestor gave her the same advice that my grandmother gave me about buying a rug. She said, "Get one to match the dirt outside." I remembered that when we revamped the bedroom and told the guy working on it to get grout that is the color of dirt!  Of course, since it is one I revisit often, I give it a five star rating!

Just sittin' round provides lots of time to have my face in a book!

- What I've Been Working On -

As you can imagine, I haven't been doing a lot of work on much of anything that I usually find time to work on. I don't like wearing the compression boot. So, I have chosen to stay off my feet as much as possible. There are some things that can be done while just sitting around, though. I've been doing a bit more of my volunteer work for the local cemetery. There is a meeting on the horizon for the membership of the Cemetery Association (folks who own a lot or have loved ones buried there). So, I've designed and ordered postcards to send out to members, made address labels and attached those to the postcards, and sent those off via postal service. I've participated in a virtual meeting with the Association Board of Trustees and mapped out an agenda for the membership meeting and handled communication regarding those two meetings. Before volunteering for this group, I had no idea of all the things that go on behind the scenes! 

Who knew there was a guy who met with the guys who install headstones? Who knew there was a guy who filed the association's tax return? Who knew there was a guy who called a tree surgeon when a windstorm blue a tree limb down in a cemetery? Who knew there was a guy who picks up the flowers that get blown around and scattered across the cemetery after a spring storm? Who knew that when someone inherits a cemetery lot from their parents they call a guy to get more information? Who knew that when a high school student wants to do volunteer hours picking up and cleaning up at a cemetery they would need a guy to sign off on their volunteer paperwork so their scholarship could be validated? Those things and more happen behind the scenes so that when passers by look across the field thy see orderliness and when bereaved friends and family show up for a funeral they don't trip over limbs and debris. So, this week I have been doing volunteer secretarial duties and answering the phone for the Cemetery Manager (better known around here as The Mister!)

When I went to physical therapy yesterday the therapist started off our hour by asking me had I been wearing the boot like I should be. Then, she looked absolutely shocked when I quickly responded, "No!" Her face was in such a state that her coworkers and I all immediately laughed. I let her know that I'm not going to lie about it but I would try to do better. As she ran me through my paces during our session and watched me perform the tasks outlined, she chuckled a couple of times, though. I had not been performing one of the exercises correctly and confessed to it. Then, I also told her that another exercise caused me to watch the timer closely because I could really feel it working on me and stretching in ways I had not felt before and she laughed and told me that I was probably one of the most honest patients she had ever worked with. I think it was a pretty good session for both of us! 

I hope your weekend is full of smiles and chuckles and you get the chance to rejuvenate and be ready to face next week with a smile on your face - and I hope any boots you have to wear are for doing a boot scootin' boogie!

Today I noticed...Good Things

Last night as I was scrolling, one of those blurbs of wisdom that often pop up caught my attention and I paused.

I paused and read it again.

Then, I made a mental note.

So, today I'm only looking for good things.

Wise Words | #2

I saw the quote below and smiled and shook my head in agreement. Sometimes we all need that reminder that we are not going to get what we want or need by sitting on our wishes and dreams. 

Sometimes we chase something because we know where it will lead. Other times we chase something and wind up being completely surprised altogether. There is experience and learning in the journey of the chase and sometimes there is also a reward at the end of a particular chase. Generally, there are also consequences as a result of the chase and sometimes that chase does not end up with the reward we desire. 

A few days after seeing the quote above, I saw it posted and there was a follow up. It was also somewhat profound, so I decided to share it as well!

May the choices you make this week lead toward the life you truly dream of!

Just 3 Things | #27

Boy! It's been a week! A cousin of the Mister's came to visit us this week and we all sat around the table chatting for a couple of hours. It was so good to catch up and just 'chew the fat' as they say. We also spent a little time at a ball field watching our youngest grand do her thing. She was a shining star in our opinion. (Of course, they always are, aren't they?) The big thing is that she got the game ball. I don't know if it was because she made a double play or because she was a big hitter but I do know that we were clapping and cheering from the fence and the excitement for us was much like it must have been for her in the photo below where she is holding that game ball!

The Treasured Game Ball

Time spent with family is always something precious. Then, another day this week we went to the insurance office to discuss some updates. There have been changes made in laws and changes in our community regarding property value. So, we spent a couple of hours sorting through all of that. The pesky birds worked through the netting that the Mister has zip-tied to the truck and he had to make some jerry-rigged updates there. I also added some reflective ribbon to the mirrors and radio antenna. We are not giving up the fight!

- What I've Been Reading -

One of the ways I volunteer in an effort to give back to the community in which I live is that I serve as the secretary of the local, non-profit perpetual care cemetery. It started as family cemetery and grew to be a little country cemetery that provided a final resting place for folks who lived nearby. 

The historical marker that is located at the cemetery.

The list of folks on that marker includes a few of the Mister's relatives. So, when his father died, he promised that he would serve on the Cemetery Association and look after what his forefathers had begun. Then, last year, the fellow who had been serving as manager passed away and Mike decided that he was being called to step into the job. Now, a portion of his days will find him answering calls from relatives of loved ones buried there, or calls from folks who are wanting to purchase a final resting place, and sometimes calls for other various reasons. His duties include overseeing that the grass gets shorn, that the grave digger knows where to dig, that monument companies place grave markers in the proper spot, that fallen tree limbs are cleared away, that there are no fire ants setting up residence, and that sort of thing. His job is one of making certain that the landscape there stays presentable and welcoming to those who visit and maintaining a list of owners and 'residents' of the cemetery. 

My volunteer efforts support his works and are to help maintain the documents of those who have purchased ownership, to keep a record of meetings held by the Cemetery Association Board of Trustees, and to record information about those who are buried there. When I volunteered to serve as the secretary and keep the records, I thought it would present tasks that needed to be undertaken sporadically. However, I soon learned that the records were an amalgamation of notebooks and loose papers documenting the information. There were some digital records but far more hard copy records than digital. So, with today's world, I decided to maintain the organization that was begun years ago in regard to the paper documents and to scan and upload a copy that would also live and could be accessed in the cloud. 

This means that I have loads and loads and loads of pages that I have been reading, deciphering, and organizing. The tasks have sort of taken on a life of their own. I have learned an immense amount of information about the folks who are my neighbors and their relatives. The Mister has helped me to make connections and learn more about the history and original homeplaces of people in our community. It has truly been a blessing to me as I navigate and organize all this information. Together, we have learned so much about people, the cemetery, and our community. We have also learned an immense amount about people and their values. So, this past week I have been reading cemetery deeds and certificates of ownership. I've been scouring through spreadsheets and linking uploaded documents. I've been searching online and finding current addresses and contact information. What started as a curiosity about a year and a half ago has become a true pursuit. The spreadsheet that has garnered the most of my attention this week is a mailing list that I am preparing so that I can notify family members and owners of lots that there will be a public meeting for the Cemetery Association Board of Trustees to share all the news about what has been impacting the cemetery in our little town. This has not been leisurely reading to say the least!

- What I've Been Watching -

We've been getting our money's worth out of older series lately and getting our money's worth out of our Amazon Prime membership. Mike found the series Unforgettable last week. Poppy Montgomery plays the role of a NYPD detective who has a special ability to remember everything. I didn't realize it but there really is such a rare condition. This article is an interview with Marilu Henner who is one of the few people who has it. And here I am, I walk into a room and cannot even recall what my reason for going in there might be!

- What I've Been Working On -

I have been working on 'practice projects' with my new sewing machine. I've embroidered a tea towel for myself as I was testing out different hoops that I have to go with the machine. I've learned that placing the item in the hoop is the most difficult and frustrating part of any project. I followed a recommendation to try a magnetic hoop and the machine went wonky on me. I was afraid I had messed something up but when I tried a non magnetic hoop, it worked fine. So, now I'm not sure if the reason the magnetic hoop didn't work is because it is larger than my 5x7" hoop or because of the magnetic-ness of it. I'm debating on trying a smaller size magnetic hoop because that makes keeping things straight, centered, and taught so very much easier. Of course, the hoop is a bit pricey for me to just order it without putting some thought into it. Do I want to spend that much on a hobby? 

I am just enamored with how beautiful the embroidery stitching is with this machine and I love the finished products even with some of the mistakes I'm making when I am nit-picking at my expertise. Now, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate a beautiful piece of hand-stitched work by any means. It just means that I like them both!

I hope we get some rain this weekend even though I have been enjoying these warm, sunny days. Of course, the Mister has said if it rains he wants to go to a cattle sale. Maybe I should hope for sunshine in order to protect our pocketbook...