Snippets of Joy

Jo and Olga planted this weeping willow years ago. It has grown into a beauty.

It conveys a magical feeling when you stand near it. Seeing it made me wish for one in a corner of our yard.

I wanted to show the page from my first simple journaling notebook that gave me this vignette idea. But after searching through lots and lots of photos on the computer I couldn't find it. If I run across it, I'll add it later.

The iron bird figurine was outside, but now it's in the guest bedroom.

FINALLY found it!

Love this glass world on the stand. 

I believe I once gave Ryan one.

Wonder what became of his.

This is my second artist figure. It's more vintage and larger than my other one over in the art room. I may have shown it before. It's hard to remember what I've shared in past posts.

I'm very fond of decorative storage boxes. I moved these from the coat rack to the small table in the guest bedroom so I could do the vignette above.

Moving objects this past week has been a form of domestic therapy. 

With the cooler temperatures in the forecast for this week I may have to venture out for some retail therapy. Feeling the need for a bargain quest.


Thanks for dropping by. Have a wonderful week of  joys.

New Chapters

I have a friend that's buying a house in a new location. When she talked about moving in this week, a small part of me was envious. Starting  over with fresh  opportunities could prove to be very exciting. I told her when she gets settled, I'm coming for a visit and a day of shopping on the square. You see, she's relocating to the town where my mom and dad resided for years. Therefore, I have a soft spot for the small town of Covington.

One Covington memory I have kept in my heart forever. This one doesn't involve my parents, but has to do with a certain young man I was dating at the time. He was from Covington and worked for a while at the fire station there. I was happy to know him and thought seriously could he  be "the one." I remember wearing pale green jeans and an olive turtleneck sweater as I walked{floated} down the sidewalk on the south side of the square. It was a crisp fall day, and I was experiencing that great to be alive feeling when you're young and having a connection with someone special. Although it didn't work out between us, that vivid memory is alive and well in my stored recollections.

Life is full of chapters, some better than others. I am grateful for every one.

                                                              *************

While going through some old magazines today, I ran across this passage that ties in well with this post. 

The words below are by David G. Weber:

Nothing feels better than to be loved, except maybe to be in love. Life and love are so precious. Don't ever take either for granted.

People walk into our lives every day. The  hard truth is that some of those people will walk right back out. We'll think of them, we'll wonder what might have been, but sometimes we just have to let them go.

A special few will leave wrinkles that run deep into the fabric of our hearts -

the kind of wrinkles that can never be ironed out. For better or for worse, they will always be a part of who we are. It can hurt like heck when they're gone, but rather than be sad, we need to be thankful that we were blessed with their companionship even if just for a blink of an eye.

And as for those who are in our lives today? Let's not wait another minute to let them know how much we love and appreciate them.

Have faith. Love deeply. Always, always, always forgive.


                                                               **************

These are recent books I have read.
Elizabeth Berg's novel was my favorite 
of the group.

This is the book I'm reading now, and each chapter is proving interesting.

Sunflowers and Selfies

Lunch date with college friends

While At Carriage House I looked for a gift.

Hopefully my friend can find the right photo and keepsake for this memorabilia frame.

I selected it as an anniversary gift.

Roadside beauties I photographed on my way home from Jackson.

Mary and Sam shared a part of their special day with us. We had time over lunch to remember some high school memories and their wedding day.

In 1967 I wrote the following words into my journal.

I regret that I didn't take pictures of Mary and Sam on their 50th anniversary. I should have insisted.

I hope they made a few photos later in the day. I also hope they know how much I admire them. 

None of us are crazy about taking pictures now that we have aged.

But here's mine after about ten tries to get one that didn't look too horrible.

Tidbits

 This little thing turned up in one of the bargain bins at Goodwill.

 Bookcase holds much more than books.

After many months out at the booth 

I decided to bring this sweet pitcher home.

 A whimsical rock gift from a friend greets me 

by the door entrance and makes me smile.

Home is where the heart is 

and where lots of personal stuff ends up.

Pennee's writing of the word home is lovely.
She gave me this large sign when they moved 
into their Dallas apartment. Not sure where to use it.

I did use her other sign above kitchen cabinets in Mother's former apartment.
May place it over our mantel closer to Thanksgiving.

 

practical basket find at Hobby Lobby

 I did this stitched picture and saying years ago.
Some home stuff is meaningful and hard to part with...maybe 
it will stay around for a few more  years.

Fun Finds

The first three were very inexpensive.

doorstop brass rabbit

brass snail for windowsill collection

bird and nest candleholder

This very old print appealed to me, especially the wooden opening for the quote. For now I've leaned it against books on the bookcase.

 

While I had the brass polish out cleaning the snail, I decided to work on the heart trivet I've had for many years. The hearts represent Jo, Jason, Ryan, Lester, and Lauren.

Hope you are having a wonderful Fourth of July. Our house is quiet since Les and his family have returned home. But we thoroughly enjoyed our time together on Saturday and Sunday. Kiera and Chloe were a joy to watch.