Gratitude List ~ Week 21

~ Teamwork: Alfred and I worked 4.5 hours yesterday finishing the work in the backyard.

~ Bravery: Alfred came up upon a water moccasin and never lost his composure {unlike me} and killed it.

~ Protection: Did I mention the snake was mere feet away from where Kenzie had been?!!

~ Modern Conveniences: My oh so sore muscles were treated to a long soak in the hottest water I could stand.

~ Compliments: Alfred says I only look maybe 28 {I'll be 35 in September}. He could be lying, but I am a sucker for flattery! ;)

Whew!

I had a very busy, productive day. After I saw Alfred off to work and showered I was out in the yard weeding the small flower bed on the side of the house. I, then, lined it with broken bits of concrete that were lining the driveway. It looks so nice and neat now!

I then proceeded to tackle the dungeon - otherwise known as my closet! I sang along to The Best of the Carpenters while I worked to help pass the time quicker. I got rid of a bag full of trash and a bag of clothes.

Next, I washed dishes and baked two loves of banana bread. By then I was tired so I took a nap. When I woke up I went back out to the yard. There's a spot in the backyard that has lots of pine trees and a few cedar trees. Last weekend we began working on raking it all out and trimming low-hanging branches.

So I raked a bit more, checked on my morning glories and moon-flowers, pulled weeds around my rose bushes, and then finally sat down with to rest and write in my journal.

I noticed a small bird carrying on in the dead tree in the front yard so I wandered over to investigate. The tree is full of holes as it has housed many a woodpecker and starlings. It is vacant now, but there was a snake skin hanging out of one of the holes! Alfred says judging my the skin the snake would be about 3-4 feet long.

He's cutting it down tomorrow though!

Sweet Dreams

We finally invested in a good pair of chocolate covered sheets - 300 thread count, 100% Egyptian Cotton with deep pockets. The deep pockets make bed-making a breeze. No more pulling and tugging trying to get regular sheets to fit!

Soon, I plan to redecorate our bedroom. The walls will be painted sage green on top and dark chocolate below with crisp white trim. I am thinking white lace curtains and perhaps painting pink roses with vines along the trim work.

I have a small three drawer dresser that I will paint white. The drawer pulls will be replaced with pink glass knobs.

I chose color's from nature's palette to create a cozy sanctuary, but with the white/pink accents, pretty linens, and painted roses it will give it a touch of romance without being overly frou-frou. It will be a room for sweet dreams to flourish.

I Did It!

So I went to my first karate class last night. I almost chickened out, but I followed through. And you know what? It was fun!

It is very empowering to get out on the mat and learn to kick, punch, and yell. The louder you yell, the stronger you are. I realized yesterday that if I can make it through a karate class, I can do just about anything. I am stronger than I thought I was.

I am looking forward to Thursday's class.

Garden Snapshots

Let's take a little walk around the garden, shall we?

I believe these are orange day-lilies. They are amazingly tall, but so bright and beautiful.

I'm not quite sure what this one, but she is simple yet pretty. Most of my plants are given to me, so I don't know all the names.

This is a ground cover called purple heart. It is growing quite nicely now after I had left it unplanted and neglected for a couple weeks!

You'll have to excuse the weeds! I haven't had a chance to weed this small bed out yet. I love my miracle caladiums. There is chard, flowering kale, and non-pokey cacti.

And finally, these elephant ears were growing wildly along the creek. I dug up three and moved them to the front yard. There is a really big one back there I still want to get!

I hope you enjoyed your stroll around the garden...

Seize the Day

To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions. ~William James

What changes do you want to make?

Gratitude List ~ Week 20

~ Transplanted wild elephant ears growing along the creek to the front yard.

~ Planted sunflowers, hollyhocks, and foxglove in the garden.

~ Giving - a smile, a meal, a plant, clothes, encouragement, and time.

~ Clearing out the excess.

~ Crafting and creative ideas for future projects.

Purging and Simplifying

Once again I am decluttering...going through every nook and cranny to clear out that which is no longer useful and/or considered beautiful. I am seeking to streamline our possessions in order to bring a greater sense of simplicity to our lives.

I am purposely creating the life I envision. After all, my home is not going to magically transform itself. No, it requires work, tender-loving-care, and dedication.

My goal is to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Living in relatively small quarters means we can't hoard things. If there isn't space for it, it has to go. Just enough and nothing more...

It sounds positively delightful, doesn't it?

Snapshots

Michael's is fast becoming one of my favorite places! I bought this wooden plaque for $1.99 and painted it a sage green, adding the Victorian lady from a scrapbook image package. It seems a bit plain...I haven't decided whether to embellish it further or leave it be. Any ideas?

I won the cute little bag and lilac goat milk soap from a giveaway on Cathleen's blog. The pink plaque is another of my craft projects. Aunt Amelia sent me a lovely letter. I picked up the cheerful vase at the dollar store. I'm currently reading Above Rubies magazine and Love Your Life by Victoria Osteen.

Crocheted bookmarks sent from an anonymous friend.
I love the delicate details.

Kendall with his first car - a 2003 Kia Spectra.
My boy is growing up...

A new bloom in the garden...

A slithering visitor in our front yard.
Don't worry...
he is not poisonous!

Alfred and I in our gis.
We start our classes next Tuesday.
Eeek!

Simply me...

What If...

What would life be like if we let go of all the "shoulds" we place on ourselves, along with all the guilt and self-criticism?

What if we stopped fearing making mistakes or what other people said or thought?

What if we stepped out of our comfort zone and did something we considered wild and crazy?

What if we gave from our hearts without expecting anything in return?

What if we turned the other cheek and loved people anyway?

What if we quit making excuses and go after the desires of our hearts?

What if we wished upon a shooting star?

What if we cut out the background noise, learned to be still, meditate, and prayed more?

What if we let go of worry?

What if we smile at the people we meet in passing and sing or hum?

What if we actively practiced gratitude, forgiveness, and contentment?

What if we apologized first?

What if we expect goodness, blessings, love, and abundance?

What would happen if we pursued our bliss?

What if....

Playing House

Remember how you used to play house? You would soothe and rock baby, make mud pies, sweep the floor, fold baby's clothes and blankets and happily so.

It can be like that again.

Instead of thinking of homemaking as drudgery - something to be avoided or rushed through - begin to think of it as play.

Sing while you work. Make things pretty. Putter and rearrange your pretties to make interesting vignettes. Fold and put carefully away your lavender scented laundry. Whip up homemade goodies in your mixing bowl with your wooden spoon wearing a cute little apron.

Don't forget your big beautiful sunhat as you walk to the mailbox to gather the mail or go out to the garden to cut fresh flowers to create a centerpiece for the table, set with an eclectic mix of pastel-colored dishes and sparkling glassware.

In the morning, after you've tended to your daily beauty routine and are dressed for the day, you go about the house throwing open the curtains and blinds and open the windows to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the house for 15 minutes before the heat of the day sets in. You notice how the windows and mirrors sparkle and the polished floor gleams in the sunlight.

It is your world. You are the creator of your own fairytale.

Dance of Dreams

Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you. ~Marsha Norman

Become an Expert

It seems like every time you turn around there is some "expert" trying to tell you how to live your life, raise your children, and do any number of things. Have we become so detached and disconnected from ourselves and our spirits that we need others to tell us how to live?

I tend to reject such advice, preferring to live by own lights using common sense and intuition. After all, who knows better than I what is best for myself?

The same is true for you, too.

We need to start listening to the still, quiet voice that whispers to us. She is our authentic self, full of wisdom. She wants to help us attain the desires of our heart and achieve our dreams.

Today, make some time to be still and listen. Become the expert in your own life.

Gratitude List ~ Week 19

~ Fed up with my internet constantly dropping its signal, I called the phone company who sent out a repairman. My internet is now running fine. Happy days are here again!

~ Pruning flowers and puttering about the garden alone, feeling connected to Mother Nature.

~ I had a mini panic attack Thursday driving to Alfred's work place, but was able to breathe through it and do alright the rest of the way and home again.

~ Incorporating more physical fitness into my daily life.

~ Kissing Alfred good-bye and saying "I love you...be careful" has become our morning ritual { and he expectantly waits to hear those words} as he rides off to work on his motorcycle.

Uh Oh!

I did something wild and crazy Thursday. I signed up for a month's worth of free karate classes! Alfred is signed up for them, too.

What was I thinking?

The classes look fun though. It will be an experience, that's for sure.

Tranquil Beauty

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot

Snapshots

{Hand-painted mailbox}

{Seaside explorers}

{Flowers in bloom}

{Mini-rushing river during a recent downpour}

{Awestruck by fire}

The Sea

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), It's always our self we find in the sea. ~e.e. cummings

On Mother's Day, I found myself swept away by the sea. It had been two years since we had visited together. Reunited at last!

As my family played and explored in its salty waters, alone I sat on the sandy shore taking in the wonder of it all. The sea whispers tidings of peace and serenity. The waters lapping against the white sandy shore, the sea gulls laughter, and the warm breeze, and the smell of coconut sunscreen never fails to hypnotize me. The sea is my place to reflect and meditate.

Gazing into the sparkling emerald waters, I found mySelf once again...

Making It Lovely

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I believe in making life as beautiful as it can be every single day, not just on special occasions or holidays. At times a little splurge is needed to spark new ideas and provide inspiration. I purchased a copy of The Girlhood Home Companion not only for myself but to share with my daughters, so they, too, will be inspired to create a lovely life.

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I first saw Jeanne d'Arc Living {a Danish magazine} on Tracie's fabulous blog and had to have it! My ancestors hail from Denmark...perhaps that is why?

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How much enjoyable our daily duties are if we pretty things up! Take, for instance, ironing... with an ironing board covered in a romantic fabric. It's pretty enough to be left out on display. Shabby~Roses~Cottage has a beautiful blog...check it out!


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Embroidered pillowcases can dress up plain linens and add beauty to the bed.

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How wonderful to serve dinner on lovely dishes and to hand-wash them afterwards.

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A vintage milk bottle holding a flower or two fashioned to a laundry line adds a touch of beauty and romance.

Making things lovely is one of the joys of homemaking!

Letter-Writing: A Lost Art

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart. ~Phyllis Theroux

It is always a pleasant surprise to receive a letter in the mail from a friend. How sad it is that letter-writing has become a lost art in this technological age!

When my family moved away from Pensacola, Florida 25 years ago, letters kept me in touch with my best friend, Paula. School pictures were exchanged as well as girlhood crushes and secrets. I still have those letters from Paula and like to reread them from time to time.

I love pretty stationary, stickers, and pens to write with. I, myself, have a few pen-pals but thought it would be lovely to expand the letter-writing circle.

If you would like a pen-pal and to revive the lost art of letter-writing, please email me at Rosehavencottage (at) yahoo (dot) com to exchange mailing addresses.

May your day be blessed with beauty...

Gratitude List ~ Week 18

~ Seeing the smile on Alfred's face when I stopped by his work to see him.

~ Buying two new Bali bras {buy 1, get 2nd half off} and a magic clip that prevents the straps from slipping.

~ The look of the yard when the grass has been freshly cut.

~ Caffeine-free Coca-Cola - tastes as great as regular Coke, yet doesn't send me in into a full blown panic attack.

~ Being a mother...it's often a hard job, but also the most rewarding.

A Tribute to My Mama for Mother's Day

As Mother's Day approaches, I thought I would share a little about my Mama.

Mama was always there for us kids growing up. Home was my safe haven where I could be free from peer pressure and just be myself. Our home was filled with love, laughter, movies, music, and girls' nights.

Mama wrote a couple of short stories about animals - Uncle Herman and Henrietta {alligators} and Matilda the spider. We loved Mama's stories. She could draw, paint, sew, crochet, and do wood-working. Mama enjoyed working out in the yard and she passed on her love of music and reading to me.

Mama always made birthdays and holidays special. She always made fabulously decorated cakes. And since we didn't get toys throughout the year, birthdays and Christmas were extra special.

All of my friends thought my Mama was so cool and always wanted to spend the night at my house. Mama always made them feel right at home.

After my parent's divorced, finances were tight but Mama made sure we didn't go without. We didn't have much in material goods but we had plenty of love and knew she would have given us the moon and stars if she could.

Mama was my mother, but she was {and still is} my friend. I am thankful that we are still so close and I am proud to be her daughter.

Thank you, Mama, for always being there for me when I needed you and for all the happy childhood memories!

A New Revolution

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As home-keepers, we are often underestimated and looked down upon by society. Little do they know the great power we hold as we go about our daily duties living quiet lives at home.

We do not need the pre-packaged junk at the supermarket. We know how to make our own mixes and baked goods using basic supplies.

We know how to make our own household cleaners. We leave the toxic chemicals at the store.

We choose not to dress in today's skimpy fashions. We sew our own or look for beautiful, feminine, modest clothing in thrift stores, consignment shops, or on Ebay.

Some of us have cottage industries whose products are far superior to those we find in retail stores.

We love our husbands and children and enjoy using our creativity to build a cozy nest for them.

We homeschool because we want our children to be taught our values, to be able to pursue their passions, be creative, learn practical life-skills, and be independent thinkers rather than blindly following the norms of society.

We know how to stretch a dollar in order to live within our means.

We plant vegetable and herb gardens or buy fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmer's market.

We are in control of our days. We get our tasks done early in the day and spend the afternoons doing things we enjoy - letter-writing, reading, writing/journaling, painting, stitching, piano-playing, or taking tea.


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Home-keepers, be strong and courageous! Turn off the nightly news and tune in to Wisdom. She will lead you to the path of peace. She will help us build our homes with the fruit of our own hands. There is profit in all labor. Do not grow weary.

Tie on your aprons. Gather your supplies and weapons - mixing bowls, wooden spoons, rolling pins, canning jars, needles and thread, paper and pens, paint and brushes, mop and broom, clothespins and wicker baskets. Put up some happy homemaking music and get to work!

We are Sisters of Liberty, creating a New Revolution!

Live Frugally...

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Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise.

-Alice Walker


In this day and time, I think this is excellent advice. Rather than bemoaning what you do not have, how much better it is to be thankful for what you do have and keep your eyes open for surprises along the way.

Living frugally, whether by choice or by need, opens us up to using our creativity in our everyday lives. You are forced to try new things. Perhaps you begin to make your own cleaning supplies, try new recipes, or take up crochet or embroidery?

As we expand our horizons and have little successes along the way, it boosts our confidence in ourselves and reinforces the importance of our job as home-keeper. These skills will serve us greatly in caring for the needs of our families and will help keep our homes running smoothly.

Take heart today, dear home-keepers, and begin to look upon your challenges as opening windows of creativity.

A Cat

A cat improves the garden wall in sunshine, and the hearth in foul weather.

~Judith Merkle Riley

Country Girl Chic

1. frilly romantic country apron made by MALPHI, 2. Cowgirl up, 3. Would you like brown eggs or blue eggs?, 4. flea finds, 5. Country Living, 6. Country Living Holidays magazine, 7. morning after, 8. Dark Pink & Light Pink Momoko Cowgirl Boots, 9. Skeleton Key, 10. vintage kitchen swap: bowls, 11. chicken coop, 12. romantic country apron Malphi Rustic Chic, 13. divine14. Chicken Coop15. Romantic Country Apron16. Divine

There is something so freeing about country-living. The pace is much slower in the country. You feel more connected to the changing seasons and the earth. Nature surrounds you. There is always time to stop and chat over the fence with the neighbors.

You don't have to be worried about keeping up appearances. Working on the homestead - indoors and out - is physical, yet fulfilling. Neighbors tend to freely share their information, tools, and even give away free plants and cuttings. The children have room to play and run free.

You find yourself breathing more deeply. You rise early and go to bed early. You learn to identify birds and animals by their calls. You are more in tune with the changes in weather. You are better able to appreciate the simple joys and pleasures in life.

You are living the good life.

Work, Play, and Exploration

Seeing a man do yard work is sexy, is it not? :)

Who needs fancy toys when you have an imagination and a big box?

It's a little hard to see, but there is a dove with her nest in one of our cedar trees!

A big grasshopper that Kenzie was afraid to touch...

...but at last she gathered her courage and did it!

Being out in the fresh air and sunshine is a good thing.