Evening Thoughts

Seeing the destruction of homes from tornadoes moves me to appreciate my home all the more. So often it's the little things in a home that are comforting.
I have had the two hearts for a very long time. The reading rabbit is a more recent find. I like having small mementos around that remind me of people and places.

Painting brings me extra comfort these days. It frees my mind from worrisome thoughts. I especially enjoy the angel paintings.

From the reports today the coronavirus is expected to get much worse. We will be spending the month of April at home. May we look for joys during this difficult period and try our best to stay safe and healthy.

   

Memphis Visit

It was good to see my brother and his new place. I liked his Audubon residence
in a private gated community. While there I noticed two things in particular that brought back memories.

My dad carved this horse out of tin and attached it to our mailbox when we lived in Swartz, Louisiana. Back then we had a horse named Ginger and kept her on our six acres. My brother mounted this keepsake onto a piece of driftwood and has it nicely displayed.

This India ink sketch was done by me. Years ago I gave it to Ron as a Christmas gift. It was nice to see it hanging with some other art works. 

I enjoyed other background stories to pieces he has collected over the years.
Recently he had an antique sofa and chair that belonged to our grandmother Crum reupholstered. His bed is also a Crum family piece of furniture. That's something he and I have always shared - a love of old. 

Littles

Recently I shared this picture on Instagram with the caption:

Inside my secretary desk are finds, mementos, and gifts, bringing to mind persons, places, and past joys. The importance of little things is huge.

I truly enjoy searching out small treasures. This week's little finds were a brass bird and two pool balls with favorite numbers. 

My tiny chairs are back on the kitchen windowsill.  

 These clothespins are in a small bowl atop an old scale in the kitchen. Of course, I'm forever changing little things in the kitchen and in other areas around the house.

Time To Let Go

Motherhood and the precious years that followed caused me to save way too much. I guess I wanted to hang on to those happy years. I made myself go through eleven Christmas boxes, discarding them but keeping a few special mementoes that were inside. There were mostly Christmas books, school ornaments, advent calendars, and simple toys. It's odd that Ryan won't remember the years that meant so much to me. I took a picture of each Christmas box and parted with numerous odds and ends. It was time to let go of what was.

Subtle Changes

Here I go again changing the placement of objects here at home.

I've had the birdhouse church on top of the hutch for so long it was actually hard to move it. Trying it out on a candlestand that my dad once put together for me.

Same was true about the bear. He's usually sitting on the bed.

My brother was here yesterday for lunch, and we spent the afternoon looking through scrapbooks and photo albums that had belonged to my mother. In one scrapbook we came across this touching bit of the past. I may decide to frame this sweet memento.

Love Ryan's childish art and my mother's handwritten note.

Seeing the old photos of a time period that's long gone was very emotional.
But how I love those black and white pictures from the past! 

I shed tears when I read a letter I had written to my mother when my dad died.
It was among the many sympathy cards she had kept in a scrapbook.

It will take Ron and I several sessions to sort through all that Mother saved. She kept so many mementos, and I tend to do the same. 

Moving Objects

Hi from my home to yours. Spent some time rearranging, my never-ending domestic activity or so it seems. Really happy with this grouping of pictures.

Decided to place them on the round tray I recently acquired in Texas. Looking at these precious pictures brings back wonderful memories. I also remember  with fondness the photographer/artist Miss Wanda Rice who captured the early years of my son and daughter.  

Also changed what was above this desk in the guest bedroom. The wire rack came down, and the mementoes from it ended up on the silver wood tray that's on the dresser.

I had a couple of visitors today for lunch. Gunner and Nicolas stayed the afternoon and made cards for their mother's birthday. 

Hard to believe that Nick will be a third grader. 

Before I end this post, I want to close with a quote. Wanda Rice had this quote on a bulletin board in her studio. She had handwritten it on an index card. Miss Wanda would be surprised that I still have that index card (and other cards) she gave me. 

"Time makes demands

 on all of us, but we can

 become times master if we 

remember to stop and do 

something purely because

 it delights us."

Glimpses

 

I saved this print a long time ago. It was a Reader's Digest back cover. Recently on Pinterest in the Art category I learned the artist's name - Gabrielle Munter. A one dollar frame from Goodwill proved ideal for this little piece of art.

  

mementoes

 

 

  This lamp burns day and night. It's  a comforting sight.

 

Made these fun tags...another cute idea from freshstyle

 

 

Best Coffee Cake 

Made this dessert today for tomorrow. 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving