Happy Birthday, Harris!

 

We hope it is as fabulous as you are!

Happy Birthday, Stephen!

Hope it is as super as you!

 

Happy Birthday, Mike!

We hope this is your best one yet!

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day looks a lot different to most of us this year.  Has there been a day since early March that we haven't thought that?  The holiday means something really different to me this year, however.  As I'm nearing retirement age, I'm looking at lots of things differently I find.  

Today, I was thankful to have the opportunity to rest up and sleep a little bit later.  Oh, yes, I still woke up between four and five o'clock this morning.  But today, I had the opportunity to go to the bathroom and then climb back between the sheets.  I got to relax a bit.  I did a little bit of reading and dozing.  Then, when I did decide to face the day, I looked out the window and saw that our flag had been delivered.  

The local high school will place a flag at the end of the driveway on patriotic holidays when you contribute to their fundraising efforts.  It is one of those things Mike and I really enjoy supporting.  I guess it helps out some local high school students and we love having the flag to proclaim our thankfulness for being fortunate enough to live in America and celebrate the freedoms provided by that privilege.  

Later, as I sat slurping my coffee and reading the morning newsfeeds I always check on while the TV local morning news and Mike's soft snoring in the recliner beside me were providing background noise a commercial came on that caught my attention.  It was encouraging the support of small businesses in the community.  What a powerful message that is always but especially right now and most especially today.

I know that Bridgette told me that one of my son-in-laws will be working today because last week's rain had put him behind on grooming the lawns of some of his customers.  I know that Laura and her family are probably doing the same.  I also know that Stephen left out right at about the time I was climbing out of bed this morning to go open up and prepare their store for the business of the day.  I know that my son has spent part of this weekend helping his in-laws with chores because they are still in recovery-mode from having COVID-19 virus.  So, Labor Day is truly that for our family - just like it was when Mike and I were kids growing up on a dairy farm - another day of work.  

Oh, they might have a cook-out for dinner.  They might spend a little time splashing in the kiddie pool in the back yard later this afternoon.  They might spend a little time outside playing baseball or shooting hoops.  However, there won't be gatherings with friends and extended family.  There won't be fireworks and parade-watching.  Nevertheless, there will be thankfulness that they all do still have the opportunity to contribute to our nation's economy and the highest standard of living and greatest production in the world.  As a family, we will all be paying tribute to the backbone of our country to the ones responsible for our nation's strength, freedom, and privileges - the American worker.  

Self-Portrait created using Google Drawings

Happy Birthday, Linley!

 

Hope your day is the greatest!

Staying Home

 When we first got the stay-at-home policy, I was so thankful.  I was glad for the opportunity to be able to stay at home.  The chance to be able to just stay here and not HAVE to go out every single day has truly been a blessing to me in lots of ways.  

One of the things staying home has provided me is the blessing of simply enjoying the front porch.  Last year I gave Mike new porch rockers and a new porch swing.  The ones we had were older than vintage.  They had been on his grandparents' porch before they graced this front porch and time had done what time does to wooden porch furniture. Slats in the seat of the chairs and bench were broken, the back of the swing had pulled away from the seat, countless coats of paint had begun to chip and wear away and they just didn't seem safe anymore. 

The image above shows a bit of what time had done to the rockers and swing.

So, last fall after Mike said not to give him a gift for his birthday and I said not to give me a gift for my birthday, I took it upon myself to bend the rules a little bit and give him rockers and a swing for his birthday and say that it was his gift to me as well.  I shopped by surfing the net and finally landed on something that I liked and thought would take on a similar profile to what had always graced the front porch.  

The new porch rockers

The rockers are not those tall, 'Cracker Barrel' rockers and have a lower profile like the old ones did.  They have a wide seat that provides plenty of room and comfortable support.  When they arrived in their flat boxes, I could hardly wait to pull the pieces out and put them together.  I love the woven seat and back.  I love the color of the wood.  I just couldn't have been more pleased with the new rockers.  

Shortly after, I also ordered a new porch swing using the concept of a Christmas gift exchange as the excuse for this purchase.  I knew that I wanted something a little longer than the previous swing so that two adults can comfortably sit on it. So, again, I surfed the net and found one that was simple and had a similar curve to the arm as the rockers.  It came unstained and I had to think for a while to decide if I wanted to paint it or attempt to stain it to coordinate with the rockers.

Stain won out and I set to work.  Then, after giving it a week or so, I oiled down the rockers as well as the swing with some of the oil finish I use on the butcher block counter top we have on the island as a protective coating.  It weathered the winter well and I gave it a new coat of oil this spring.

The front porch has sort of turned into an oasis for Toby and me this summer.  We both have enjoyed hours out there.  He stretches out for a nap on the rug and I sit in one of the rockers or the swing and read a book or nap.

The addition of some ferns and flowers have truly made it seem like a summer oasis. I've so enjoyed the beauty of the green, the dark walnut-wood color of the furniture, and the shade.

It is friendly and welcoming as well as relaxing and comfortable whether we are napping or just sitting and watching the world go by.

A tall ice-cold drink in the afternoon or a delicious cup of coffee in the morning will usually be enjoyed right on the front porch.  I've enjoyed the space so much, that other instances of metamorphosis have taken place and even more will be coming.  That's another story for another day, though.  Right now, I hear the front porch calling to me and maybe I'll let Toby tag along!

Happy Birthday, Luci!

We hope this is absolutely the best!