~My Thoughtful Spot~

Welcome to my garden!

Over the last few months a new garden corner has slowly been taking shape.

Ground has been cleared.

Some plants removed. Mulching and planting have taken place.

And a path has been added to border it as well.

If you follow the path round the bend, you'll find it . . .

my thoughtful spot.

Please come and have a seat!

It's comfortable here in the morning shade. Still cool and very still.

Can you hear the bird chatter yet?

Take a look to your right and you'll see the view below:

hydrangea in bloom, a carpet of succulents, a dwarf lilac and wispy grasses.

And to your left?

The old birdbath has a new home here.

Look straight ahead and you'll see where the path ends . . . here at the thoughtful spot.

It' time to be still and enjoy the gift of now.

Ahhh. . . .

Of course, there are times the solitude may be broken . . .

actually, I have yet to come out here without the company of someone furry!

I think it's the proximity to the birdbath.

I mean, the kitty bowl.

(And I wonder why I've yet to see a bird bathing here!)

Some people's thoughtful spots are other's drinking fountains I suppose.

“Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits...” 

― A.A. Milne

~Marching Along~

Goodness- March already upon us! 

Today is my mother's birthday (Happy Birthday, Mom!)- the first of six March birthdays for our family. Yes, March is a busy month around here.

This is her present and I was so pleased with how the wrapping turned out that I thought I'd share it with you. :) 
(oops! There's the timer for the oven- let me dash off a moment! Okay, I'm back- had some baking to take care of- more on that in a bit) 
Isn't the little clip-on birdy cute? I think he makes the gift!

And so, March is here and where did February go? Well . . .

part of it was spent with both boys sick and me fighting off their germs. The Younger missed three days of school in a row . . . and after three days I was missing a bit of my sanity if you know what I mean.

Yup- cute, but oh-so cranky. Though, aren't we all when we're not feeling well?

Below is what is left of another of February's events: a friend's bridal shower. That lovely bouquet is one of the five we had festooning the party. I was lucky enough to get to take this one home with me. Everything turned out so beautifully- from the food and drinks to the decorations and games- if only there had been time to take pictures!

I also got a little crafting in last month- the kind that's just for me (funny how infrequently that happens). Below is the little entry way to our basement right off the kitchen. I set up a little wintry vignette at the beginning of the month . . .

and I made these simple wall hangings from materials I had lying around.

The borders are chalkboard paint which allows me to change the quotes bordering the images . . . though, I haven't changed a thing yet. It was especially fun to find fitting quotes that would fit the parameters of the hanging. The two I settled on are:

"In seed-time learn; in harvest teach; in winter enjoy" 
- William Blake

and . . .

In a way Winter is the real Spring, the time when the inner things happen, the resurgence of nature.
- O'Brian

And speaking of Spring . . . I actually got out in the garden last week! We had a gorgeous sunny day and I took advantage for some cutting back and clearing. You can see one tiny spot of the garden is all ready for Spring . . . and the rest will have to wait as we've had lots of rain and cold cold temperatures since. 'In like a lion' you know.

The most exciting part of visiting the garden had to be the tulips pushing their way through the mud. I planted these last Fall and it looks like they actually made it! I found only one dug up and fallen pray to some pesky squirrel. The rest are getting ready for their April display!

So- you may remember I had to run off to the kitchen at the beginning of this post . . . 

And here is the reason why . . . Lemon Squares!
These particular bits of yumminess come from my childhood days . . . my mother used to have Tupperware and Avon parties and these are what she would make. Lucy Lemon Squares. (the 'Lucy' part comes from them being a part of a 'Peanuts' cookbook) I don't think she could've ever made these often enough.

In my mind these are the cream of the crop when it comes to lemon bars . . . incredible shortbread-like crust, zesty lemon filling that isn't too over-powering and a dusting of powder sugar to make it that much better.

So if you are so inclined as to welcome March with some lemon-y goodness, here is the recipe:

~Lucy Lemon Squares~

1 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup powder sugar

Sift flour and sugar into bowl. With fingers mix in butter (I am lazy and just use the mixer and add the butter in little bits until it all comes together)

Spread and flatten dough into greased 8x8 inch pan. 

Bake at 350 for 30 min.

Meanwhile . . . beat together:

2 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. baking powder

2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (about 1 lemon)

dash of salt

Pour over baked crust and bake at 350 another 20 mins or so.

Sift powder sugar over top and let it cool- slice into squares and enjoy!

Cheers!

~Stay Young~

I had a different post in mind for today as I have some special things I wanted to share, and even the dark gloom and clouds we've been having had lifted this morning in full cooperation with picture taking . . . and then my camera battery died before I could even get started! So those things will just have to wait, which is probably for the best because I am in a state of just too tired anyway. My brain is at about 12% capacity today and I'm not even exaggerating. Much better to wait until it's back at it's usual 55%. ;)

I do, however, have something else to share . . . something that I can just copy down word for word for you and don't have to think past that. This is a short inspirational bit that one of my dearest friends read to all of us attending her 50th birthday party last summer. It's something she had found in an old magazine of her father's from back in the 50's or 60's and it spoke deeply to her. I also think it's beautiful and very true and I want to keep it in mind always. I hope you will be encouraged by it as I have.

So without further ado, this is how to . . .

STAY YOUNG

Youth is not a time of life, it is a state of mind, it is a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over love of ease.

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self distrust, fear, these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust.

Whether seventy or sixteen there is in every being's heart the love of wonder, the sweet amazement at the stars, the starlight things and thoughts, the undaunted challenge of events, the child-like joy and the game of life.

You are as young as your self-confidence, as old as your doubt; as young as your faith, as old as your fear. 

As long as your heart receives messages of power: from the earth, from man and from the Infinite, so long you are young.

The Youngest being Young
- August 2012-

Cheers!

~ Much Ado About Valentines~

It's been one crazy-packed week and the post I began Monday is now being taken into today. 

And is therefore rather picture heavy.

But I like pictures. They're worth a thousand words. And that gives this post about 15,000 words in only a few hundred. 

Because I'm talented like that. And really tired.

So, without further ado: the Valentine Tour. In pictures.

And a few words.

In the Kitchen Nook.

And Elsewhere.

Happy pom-poms.

Mantle Love.

It's been so much fun decorating and tweaking over the last couple of weeks. Bringing my own joy of the season in to warm and cheer us. 

I adore February as the days stay lighter later and the trees and bushes start swelling with buds to remind us spring is around the corner. I love the starkness that is still with us and how much brighter everything else seems in comparison. I love that it is still winter and I am often commanded by the elements to sit inside and pursue the domestic and the dreams. To me February is like one last deep breath of rest and cozy before the stirrings of spring start to take hold . . . and March comes blowing in with a roar and cacophony all it's own.

But the best thing about February? 

Valentine's Day.

I am quite fond of it- whether to celebrate romance or love in general, it just feels good to remind the people around us that we care!

So for our family a special breakfast was made.

The table was set.

And clues to find the hidden treats were at the ready.

I even received a handmade valentine from The Oldest. I was very moved that he would even bother and decided to ignore the fact that he addressed me as, 'The demon raiser'. I'm guessing that that's what a valentine from a thirteen year old boy looks like and truthfully, some days truer words were never spoken. ;)

After the boys headed off to school, the Husband presented me with a valentine as well. He doesn't do cards, but he does pick out some very cute bracelets. I love the shades of green in this set! And this is the first time he's ever picked out jewelry of any kind for me.

It was a very nice surprise.

And speaking of surprises, just to cap off the day with happy, I found a sweet surprise in the mail from my dear friend Lora . . .

a gorgeous antique Valentine from 1909. Isn't it beautiful? 

"Our humanity comes to its fullest bloom in giving. We become beautiful people when we give whatever we can give: a smile, a hand-shake, a kiss, an embrace, a word of love, a present, a part of our life . . . all our life."

~Henri Nouwen

Happy Valentine's Day!

Cheers!

~All the Autumn's Joys~ Welcoming Wreath

Last week, as I was decorating the house in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday,
I stumbled upon the fact that my old front door wreath was just too worn to be properly welcoming.
However, I had an old grapevine wreath on hand and some dried Indian corn from about ten years ago that has sat at the bottom of my 'autumn decorations' box forever, never really fitting in anywhere.
Until now.

I took some scrap ribbon and bundled my corn together- added a copper dipped leaf that Husband bought me about 12 years ago as a birthday gift and hung it all from the wreath.

I am so pleased with how it turned out- especially since it cost me nothing and as things are these days 'nothing' is about what I can spend ;)

Now that's MUCH better! A proper welcome for any guests, and especially- 

a warm welcome to you!

 So glad you could drop by! :) And please stop by again soon- I have more 'autumn joys' to share!

Cheers!

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations"

from Psalm 100

~Gracious Uncertainty~

"Spiritual life is the life of a child". 

"We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next. If we are only certain in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views; but when we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy."

"Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come."  

~ Oswald Chambers

True words that need to be held on to. Truth that I am learning, but still need so much practice.

Practice, practice, practice . . . 

In Grace & Life 101, I'm studying the textbook of Uncertainty- it's a big, fat book with lots of little print.

 I really didn't want to take this course, but it's a required class for whatever is next . . . 

of course that's pretty uncertain too. ;)

I'm doing the reading, but finding it hard to turn these pages joyfully. I'm highlighting a lot, getting excited over what I am seeing . . . and then forgetting it as soon as I turn the page. And this class seems to have tests right and left . . . at least, I think they're tests . . . kinda uncertain there, too.

However, every time I feel that sinking feeling of failing . . . 

the Professor comes over and gives me a little hint; a little grace. 

And I start to remember what I should know by rote now: when I admit this paper I'm working on is nothing but B.S.-

He does come in and He grades with a hefty curve.

Cheers!

~Easy Like Sunday Morning~

"In tribulation. ,misunderstanding, slander,

 in the midst of all these things, if our life is hid with Christ in God, 

He will keep us at ease."

~Oswald Chambers~

Cheers!