OCTOBER SKIES

 

"Autumn Tree"

Without a doubt, October is my favorite month of the year! I always look forward to seeing the leaves don their bright hues & feeling those very first crisp-y breezes. This Autumn has been especially welcome after an unusually LONG & HOT summer season!

The other day, my husband Joe surprised me with two colorful chrysanthemums to enjoy on our old bungalow's front porch. He chose a rusty red color, which goes PERFECTLY with our newly painted front door! Somehow, I'm sure he knew I'd love that!... He is so thoughtful & such a sweetie! 

I hope this season finds you enjoying all the GOOD things that Autumn offers!... Pumpkins & the sound of crunchy leaves underfoot, cozy socks, scarves & sweaters to keep the chill away... Clear blue skies, apple crisp & cider, bonfires & the State Fair.

So many blessings!... I wish you much Harvest Happiness!!   :)

I had so much fun creating "Autumn Tree"! It's an original 4" x 6" frameable piece of artwork, sure to brighten any corner of your home. You can find it in my Etsy shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS.

HARVEST QUILT

"Harvest Quilt"

Autumn is coming to North Carolina! The evenings are nippy and the tops of the trees have been painted orange and gold. It's time for some of my favorite things... apple crisp, chrysanthemums, colorful leaves, pumpkins, cozy sweaters, and warm quilts. :)


"Harvest Quilt" is my little tiny way of celebrating the JOYS of Autumn! It is available for purchase in my Etsy shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS.

LIFE'S A BEACH :)

"Chillin' At The Beach"

I grew up in a beach-lovin' family! :) The highlight of our entire year was always a laidback vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. There was something fun for everyone!... sailing, fishing, jumping in the waves, building sandcastles, and lots of beachcombing.

But I think my favorite thing was just chillin' on the beach, taking it all in and enjoying the sunshine!


"Chillin' At The Beach" is available in my Etsy shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS!

HEAVENLY HANDIWORK

"Heavenly Handiwork"

My husband and I recently made the trip from our home in the city to his family's home in the country. We traveled at night under a nearly-full moon. Like a true "city girl", I found myself amazed by all the millions of stars twinkling overhead! The words of the Psalmist came to my mind...

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands."
Psalm 19:1

Thank you, Lord!!... When I lose sight of how infinite and powerful You are, You gently remind me by all You've created.




"Heavenly Handiwork" is available for purchase in my Etsy shop, PHOLKART*BLESSINGS

THE LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER

When I was a little girl, my family lived in a small town in New York State. Our house was an old, stucco tudor that was set on a hillside in what used to be an apple orchard.

Because the winters were long and snowy, I always looked forward to the summertime! I loved being outside!!

...admiring the flowers, investigating the bugs and bees and butterflies, running barefoot through the sprinkler.

I spent many happy hours swinging on the swings in our backyard, trying to touch the clouds with my toes...



...and nothing could beat the feeling I had as I zoomed on my bicycle, as fast as the wind!


Many summer evenings, after my Dad came home on the train, we packed up the family station wagon and drove all the way to the "Y". As an outdoor-loving little girl, I thought nothing could be better than swimming for hours and eating a picnic dinner with my family and catching lightning bugs after dark! On special occasions, we stayed up really late to watch movies out under the stars...


When it was finally time to come home, I loved to snuggle down in my bed under the covers and read by the light of a flashlight 'til I was finally fast asleep...


Thank you, Lord, for these wonderful childhood memories of summertime!

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

My husband, Joe, and I live in a small city. Every weekday I commute a short distance west on the Interstate to the suburbs where I care for two small children. It's an easy commute -- 20 minutes at the most -- past shopping centers, gas stations, fast food restaurants, schools, hospitals, the "Y", & several subdivisions. I often feel, as I zoom along to work in the morning, that my car knows the way by heart. For the most part, I see the same familiar scenes each day.

But recently, I discovered a "back way" to the childrens' preschool. It takes us past horses & pastures & an occasional cow, then down a windy road through the woods. At the bottom of the hill is an old mill pond. A narrow bridge crosses the bubbling stream where the waterwheel still turns. As we slow down to cross the bridge, sometimes we can see Canada geese swimming gracefully along in formation. At other times, we can see the ducks line up along the spillway -- and so, we have to slow down to say hello to the ducks...

I can't begin to tell you how refreshing this short ride through the countryside has been for me!! It is sooooo renewing to get off the beaten path, even just for a little while!

Written 10/24/06

MORNING MEDITATION

Sitting on the deck on a cool Saturday morning. Listening to the drone of the lawn mower as Joe mows the front lawn -- love the sweet smell of freshly cut grass! Also listening to a variety of bird songs & the occassional bark of a neighbors' dog.

Watched a hawk circling overhead. What would it be like to drift along, high above the world, on currents of air?

I've seen many other birds from my perch on our deck as well -- two little chickadees, flitting from branch to branch in the pine trees. A fat robin, sitting for a brief moment on Brenda's fence. A blue jay, just passing through. A crow in our neighbors' yard, looking for breakfast.

Joe found an abandoned birds' nest in the acuba bush -- a carefully woven home for fragile eggs & baby birds. How do birds know how to take bits of twigs & leaves & pine needles and sculpt them into perfectly rounded bowls, just the right size for their eggs?

The vinca I planted in the big black pot have all put down roots in the rich soil, & are showing off their cheerful blossoms. Bright white petals surrounding a hot pink center against shiny green leaves, well-watered & reaching toward the sun. They look happy!

Soft, almost transparent clouds cover the pale blue sky. A gentle breeze is rustling the leaves in the treetops.

Passing by -- an ant, a wasp, a bumble bee, a painted bug. Salem, our dog, comes out to lie down next to me in hopes of having her ears scratched & her back rubbed. Now, the soft swoosh-swoosh-swoosh of water as the sprinkler sprays the green grass...

When I came outside, just a brief time ago, I felt sooo tired -- yes, & even irritable. Now I am breathing the sweet air & I feel refreshed, renewed, quieted.

Thank you for these restful moments, Lord. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy what You have made. I feel better now.

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Psalm 150:6

Written 6/10/06

IN OUR OWN BACKYARD

Beautiful Saturday morning!...

I love being here on the deck! It's cool, shady, breezy, and quiet (as quiet as things get at our home here in town!). So many birds singing! I've been watching a monarch butterfly, who seems content to fly all around our yard. The azaleas are blooming, and the dogwood next door is covered with white blossoms. So very peaceful...

Joe has been transplanting hostas from our neighbors' backyard this morning. Little by little over the past year, he has seeded and watered and planted and weeded and patiently waited to see the fruits of his labors. Our yard is looking lush and green as a result now. I am so grateful for all of his hard work! And now I am understanding better his vision.

I think Joe saw potential out here that I just didn't see. I have to admit, I thought his one-man war against the wild violets that had overtaken our backyard was a little crazy -- they were green, weren't they? Wasn't it futile to fight against them when they were so determined to migrate over from our neighbors' untamed yard? Wasn't Joe just fighting a losing battle?

But I was wrong. And this Spring has proven it. This was a battle worth waging. Joe has taken back the yard from its' overgrown state, and now it is healthy and green... a testimony to Joe's hard work and diligence.

Jesus often used metaphors about gardening in His parables. Weeds. Fertile soil. Rocky soil. Water. Growth. Fruit. Seed planting. Tilling. Persistence. Providence. Hope. Faith. Harvest... There is much to think about here in our own backyard.

Written 4/15/06

HAPPY B'DAY 2 ME!!!

I celebrated my 50th b'day last month, and it got me thinking about things I've learned about myself along the way. Here are a few simple facts about me (in no particular order!) :

* It's important to me to be authentic.
* I'm most comfortable in my blue jeans.
* Quiet time re-energizes me; busy-ness makes my battery run low.
* I doubt I'll ever be an avid gardener, a gourmet cook, or a sports fan.
* I like living in a place where the seasons change. Spring and Fall are my favorites!
* I think of myself as a stay-at-home-mom/ self-taught artist/ craftperson.
* I don't usually like to shop, but I can spend hours exploring a bookstore, a craft store, or a hardware store.
* I like to live simply. For me, that means eating basic, healthy food, keeping my home uncluttered and friendly, and juggling only a few commitments at a time.
* I'm a better listener than a talker.
* Playing with craft supplies -- colorful papers, punches, markers, glitter, glue, paint, and clay -- makes me happy!
* One of the most important life skills I'm trying to cultivate is the ability to have a thankful heart.
* Being a wife and mom have been the greatest blessings of my life!!!

Written 3/16/06

AN ORDINARY (HAPPY!) SATURDAY MORNING

It's 10:30 on an ordinary Saturday morning. I have no place to be, no schedule to keep. A whole empty day stretched before me -- pure bliss!!

So far, I've had French toast coffee with my husband, Joe (usually we have pancakes, but today just felt like a French-toast-kinda-day!). Mine had Grandma's homemade strawberry jam, made with strawberries grown on the family farm -- YUM!!! Fed and talked to Salem, our dog (who loves the extra attention). Let Salem in & out of the back door at least ten times (she likes to see what's goin' on in her neighborhood!). Checked my email and my eBay art groups. Listened to my husband laughing his big, happy laugh from the next room as he watched a SciFi show he'd taped (how I love that laugh of his!!). Considered all the many ways I might spend today -- vacuuming? (nah!), folding clothes? (definitely!), washing my hair & getting it cut? (great idea!), changing the sheets? (yup, put that one on the list), going outside? (it's 60 degrees today in January -- much too nice to be inside all day!), wandering around in my favorite craft store (what a treat!), doodling? (just haven't had time lately, and I've missed being creative)...

Lord, I'm so grateful for this ordinary Saturday, when I can JUST BE!! Thank you for time to regroup, catch up with myself, and play a little!

Written 1/28/06

NEW BEGINNINGS...

Today is the first day of a brand new year!! It's cool and sunny, with a Carolina-blue sky -- a perfect early-winter day!

As I write this, I am sipping hot tea and enjoying the wonderful view from our back porch. The sky seems so expansive now that the leaves have left their branches! I have a wide view of our funky old neighborhood -- the rooftops, the huge trees, squirrels and winter birds enjoying the sunshine.

Thank you, Lord, for this day of peace and tranquility! Thank you for New Beginnings...

Written 1/01/06