Awards!

Pileofsmiles gave me this sweet award and now I can give it to seven other bloggers. I'd like to give it to the following:
Paper Napkin Poetry : I love the pictures on this blog. It's sweet and meaningful!
As Lilies Sewing: Sarah is a fine writer and willingly shares her family life. Good recipes, too!
My Firefly Cottage: Lately, a pie a week! This blog contains interesting commentary on a variety of subjects and some astounding knitting pieces.
Left-Handed Housewife: Again, wonderful writing and heartwarming posts.
A Life Worth Living: Spiritual input and thoughtful posts. CUTE dog!
SuKnitWitty: Amazing! Clever writing and high-thinking knitting wisdom
For the Love of Fiber: Robin is a wonderful blogger and a VERY accomplished knitter!

Please visit all the blogs above (if you haven't already!) and enjoy the fruits of their great creativity! When they accept the award, they download the award to post on their blog, nominate seven other blogs and share seven things about themselves.
My seven things:
1. I'm privileged to partner with my husband of 31 years.
2. I love antique shops but rarely visit them.
3. I've journaled since the seventh grade.
4. I used to read the Little House books every year.
5. Being a mother is precious to me and being a granny is fun, fun, fun.
6. I wish I was thin.
7. As much as I love people, sometimes I'm a lazy friend.
Thank you to all the kind and interested individuals who take the time to read my "ponderings" and please KNOW that your comments are a breath of fresh air and a delight to my heart. I hope you enjoy the blogs mentioned above. love pp

Home Road

The scenery here is Washington takes my breath away. The landscapes allude to hard work and they evidence productivity. From the perfect square fields to the well painted homes, it sort of makes me feel like a slacker. Bill could be a farmer with his passion for growing things and ability to shore up out of control edges and flowerbeds, but I'm too dreamy and distracted - not a farmer, just a lover of the picture-perfect beauty. There is such pride of place. My brother David's home is in classic condition. It's old and charming with a cozy wood-paneled dining room and beams on the high ceilings. There are gnomes perched high on the posts and troll dolls and plastic ponies on the mantel. As you can imagine, it appeals to my sense of whimsy. I'll take a picture of the driveway. It looks like it GOES with Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken. The church in Edison sits in the middle of vast farmland, edged by blueish foothills. The roads are straight and purposeful. The picture above is the road I rode my bike on when I was desperate to see my friends or I needed freedom and the wind in my face. It's the road that can lead to town, to my country school, to my friends' houses. Now it isn't my road but I'm awed and comforted that it is here where I am not. I can't put my mind around all the years that have gone by. Was it really 33 years ago when I graduated from high school and left for college? I had no idea that I would not come back to live here or that our children wouldn't hold it in their minds as I do. It was my place for seventeen years. Those years seem bigger. The years since seem full, but swift. When I was a child and my life stretched from birthday to birthday, days seemed long and full of waiting. I'm so thankful that this place waits for me. We've had two days of festivities and seeing my nieces and nephews has greatly encouraged my heart. They are fun. They are interesting and they are not boisterous and proud, but humble and meek. It's a small taste of something I'm hungry for, the common interests, beliefs, mannerisms, and philosophies. Once again, I'm reminded of the essential concept of connection and the time it takes to come to "ah ha" moments. My "ah ha" moment here feels like love.

Wrong Words

Elizabethd had a great idea. She asked me what words I DON'T like. Here's the list:

ledger: this is a muddy word for columns of numbers (yawn)
hack: a mean word
consequence: so bossy
rebuttal: right in the middle of it, something is wrong - how about respeakal instead?
fame: couldn't it sound more meaningful or philosophical? Hmmmmm.
mobile: sounds so flat
dynamic: it just doesn't fit its meaning and needs some romance

New made up words:
vyisp: the surge of excitement experienced on Splash Mountain (Disneyland or Disney World)
ling: the sensation of a cold, refreshing drink
whisple: the longing for prettier toes

I may be away a while. I'm going on a trip. I'll take many glorious photos of my people and my places. I'll keep up on my favorite blogs, so keep speaking into my life, good bloggers! I love to learn from YOU! I have to go deal with sigglepook now, so I can ride the exercise bike while listening to my fairy song playlist!

Snazzy Words

Today, as I was reading THE CREATIVE CALL, I enjoyed an exercise that required making a list of favorite words. Here are some of mine and an explanation of why I like them:
buoyant: this brings to mind the wonderful faith-filled feeling of floating and also reminds me of how much I love upbeat, happy times.
illustrious: I know this has a negative connotation sometimes, but it seems so bright to me, like a colorfully dressed friend.
fluid: this evokes the idea of movement, clean pipes, no barriers or hitches.
twinkle: the K sound is fun to say and this word sounds crisp
ointment: don't you like the sound of this word? Useful and zippy!
soothe: this is a nice servant-hearted word. I like to soothe and be soothed.
tulip: I used to wish my name was tulip. I love them and I think this is a smiley word
nest: oh yes, the visual, the concept, a VERY favorite word
gnome: love the way it's spelled, love the magic in the way the word LOOKS
cozy: zzzzzzzzzzz
bird: brilliant, the perfect name for a delightful species
purple: love the p's and the majesty associated with the color
conundrum: doesn't it sound so much better than problem?
bus: such a little word for something that holds so many
sew: some of my students did not recognize this word when reading (SAD!) and I love it because it is small and full
oyster: funny! I still don't like them but I think it is cute that my parents do!
brave: doesn't this word have a lovely lilt? AAAAAA - and then a V. So good!
flexible: I like words that employ the X
fish: love the shhh and the quiet associated with fish

Now I'll make up some words:
sigglepook: this is the frustration that you feel when you have to untangle your iPod earbuds AGAIN
chaiyup: this is the feeling one has when they want to eat a cookie, but feel like they should eat an apple
sleyn: this is the way a child's hair feels
peeop: this is the guilt associated with a dirty car
narn: this is the delicious feeling recognized when none of your body parts hurt

I had my students make up words once and they came up with some fantastic words and apt definitions. In your comment, make up a word and define it. I'll add it to my vocabulary in your honor! Big LOVE ~ PP

Yard Party

Yesterday held sun-filled FUN! CB and Finn arrived in the morning, just in time for Finn's morning sleep, so CB and I headed out to the back yard to make mud soup. I had filled the pool earlier, so CB had access to a lot of water. She ran back and forth, back and forth filling her pots and tea cups. Jeff and his friend Mark came out to watch the fun. Kelli and her girls came and brought an extra swim suit for CB and then the real roaring water games began! Actually, Birdie and CB simply enjoyed each others' company! Miss Bug sat in her chair and on the grass, Kelli helped supervise, and I fixed lunch. The girls had a picnic on the Waldo blanket and Finn sat in the high chair. Later, Birdie took a nap and Brad and April came back from car shopping and CB and Finn went home in their new red van! Kelli and Bryan stayed until the afternoon thunderstorm passed. After hot dogs and leftover potatoes, Granny and Grandpa went straight to bed.

For Hermits

Here's what Knut says:
You are welcome to your intellectual pastimes and books and art and newspapers; welcome, too, to your bars and your whiskey that only makes me ill. Here am I in the forest, quite content. ~Knut Hamsun (Norwegian Novelist)

After driving in traffic yesterday, going to Jenny's doctor's appointment with her, I like Knut's sentiment. It doesn't take me very long to get VERY comfortable holing up in our house, on my little bit of earth (my forest, I guess) and it rattles my soul to drive around in the middle of all the busyness. I am used to my commute when I am teaching, but now that I am home I do not wish to drive around, paying attention to other drivers, getting caught up in the frenzy. I wish to stay home and simply be. Because we had to sit in a few waiting rooms, I read some magazines I don't usually read and my heart experienced some discouragement as I read about selfish, all about me celebrities and as I looked at show homes in other magazines, I decided that I like blogs MUCH better, because the pictures represent creativity and personal stories - so much more meaningful. I do gain a lot more inspiration from books and magazines than nature, I hate to admit. As far as the whiskey goes, that has never been an inclination of mine, but I think I understand Knut's allusion to simple existence, enjoyed without the help of mood altering substances. Rich instruction lies in nature. We can't really control it, it is often difficult to fully appreciate it, and our compulsion to remain busy and industrious just doesn't lend itself to sitting in the middle of the forest. I think I am a bit of a hermit.
I hope you are able to enjoy "your forest" today and simply be. Thank you for your sweet comments. I delight in them.

Looking Up in the Morning

Morning.
"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Psalm 5:3

When I was a child, I slept little. I remember getting up first, at a loss as to what I could do, feeling alone in our quiet house. Later, as a teenager, spending the night with friends, I'd wake up long before others. As a young mother, our babies would wake me up and if not for many night feedings and a recovering body, I may not have dreamed of delicious sleep ins. No, getting up to nurse them in the wee hours was adventuresome. I felt a bit like I was in a new land, the land of sleep and my baby's hungry suckling made me feel like a different person, a citizen of the night. So, during that period, I did not enjoy quiet mornings of journaling, praying, reading about Jesus. I have discovered the replenishment that supernaturally occurs overnight. Mom was right, "Things seem less pressing in the morning." So, I come to Jesus then. I make my requests known to Him and then I wait in expectation.

Pondering "morning" certain locations came to mind.

When I remember past mornings, I think of Malibu Club. For our first ten years of marriage (and beyond, really) we spent at least three weeks at this remote location in British Columbia, Canada. The camp was originally built to lure wealthy Americans with a taste for the exotic. Wealthy prospective guests couldn't keep it afloat so Young Life (nondenominational Christian outreach program for teenagers) bought it and still owns it. It is only accessible by boat or sea plane. Our children have the most vivid and precious memories of their time here. I can still hear the sound of my feet on the boardwalks (and the sound of the baby stroller) and I can smell the dining hall and the Totem Inn where the children ate their breakfast. I'd pop into the serving area, help myself to a cup of coffee and journey back to our cold, little cabin to build a fire. All around us, kids from every part of the U.S. and Canada were playing, laughing, hearing about Jesus and experiencing care and concern beyond what they could encounter at home in the confusing world of adolescence. The hand of the Creator is so apparent there.

Hawaii

Last summer, I went to Hawaii to visit Jeff. He was an excellent tour guide and the first morning I was there, we got up very early to drive out to an Oahu beach to watch the sun rise. It was a blissful and yet pensive morning. There were already surfers about and the sand was cold on my feet. Yes, the morning is a magical time, especially at the sea.

This morning, I'm watching the birds at the feeder, I'm alone (Bill and Jeff went to run an early morning errand for Kelli) and I'm in love with the smell of my house. It smells like coffee, peonies (I'm still sneezing), and us. Sheets are in the dryer (no time to hang them out on the line!) and I'm preparing our guest room for one of Jeff's college friends. I'll scrub the bathroom, vacuum the carpet, fluff the bed, and then I want to go outside and feel the morning for a while. I might water the flowers, enjoy a cup of tea and breathe a few more prayers to my Savior.

A Swim for Pom Pom

Granny's invited to join the fun! It's Saturday morning swim! Up and at 'em early, I drive up to Brad and April's . . .

Brad and April live in an adorable little storybook village!

Beautiful! Here is Brad and April's pretty house!

The faithful guard dog, Pugsley!

The flowery welcome!

Brad and April's garden

Not many dads crochet for their kids, I know! Brad is a creative dad and husband and whipped up the above softies for CB and Finn!

These are the love notes Brad wrote for April. He put them all over their house to remind her of how precious she is to him.

Isn't this wall mural enchanting? Our friend Beth painted the lovely fairyland scene!

This is where Finn sleeps for naps, but his busy sister makes THIS crib too noisy at bedtime, so he sleeps in another crib in his parents' room! Note the Pug pillow!

CB's cozy bed! She is like her daddy (doesn't really LIKE sleeping!) and can't wait to hop out of her downy nest!

We arrive at the pool.

Look at sleepy Finn!

Swimming pools are FUN! I love the pool where CB and Finn swim! I feel energized by the water and so do April, CB and Finn! The kids are going to be swimmers like their mommy!

Finally, dressed and DONE. Finn usually naps in the morning, so swim lessons (as fun as they are!) interfere with his schedule! Note the tired eyes! It's time to go to Granny and Grandpa's for lunch!

And the fairy ate her lunch!

After taking a delicious nap in the upstairs crib, Finn joined us and crawled around like a champ! Go Finn! We had such a fun morning and afternoon! Next on the schedule for Finn and CB was a trip up to see their other grandpa and grandma. CB looked forward to feeding the horse. Grandma has volunteered to horse sit for a neighbor! Fun!

NEWSFLASH!
Yahoo! Yahoo! Beautiful Rosebud and Scott found out yesterday that they are having a . . . GIRL! So, at the end of November or the beginning of December, we'll have a precious little girlie to hold and cuddle! I can't WAIT! Finn will be one in August and by the time the new granddaughter comes, Miz Bug will be ten months! We are so blessed! Thank you, Jesus!

And today, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to Bill! He's a VERY committed father, an engaged grandpa and he prays for us with passion. He partners with me and helps me grow. He loves me like crazy and I am overwhelmed with thankfulness.

Today, Birdie and Miz Bug (and their parents!) will join Bill, Jeff and I for a Father's Day dinner! Rose and Scott will come, too! So, I'm off to prepare for all the fun! I'm thinking of my own sweet father today! He will probably enjoy a delicious fish dinner to celebrate! Next week at this time, I'll be with him! I can't wait to plant a kiss on his balding head! He is lovable!

Happy day to all of you!

Pretty Stuff

These beauties were part of our dinner last night and after talking to my mom on the phone, I can't wait until next weekend when I will arrive in strawberry land and feast on farm fresh berries! My brother just returned from an Alaskan fishing trip and brought home a freezer full of halibut! YUM! My dad said we must get some crab, too! Yeehaw! We'll journey up Chuckanut Drive or go out to Samish Island and choose our crabs!

I think these gorgeous peonies MIGHT be the sneeze makers! I am not ready to rid the house of peonies YET, so I keep sneezing and sneezing and sneezing.

Yay for PINK! I'll put pink by the sweet peas, pink in the front, close to the pansies!

Petunias and marigolds are all ready to go into the ground. I bought some pepper plants, too. I planted some pepper seeds, but they are not popping up yet.

New calico all ready to be sewn into a skirt (with a sort of apron appendage) and a blouse! I'm ready to begin this wearable sewing project. I'll show you the finished costume and you can tell me what you think.

Found! Another piece of jewelry! Does this bracelet remind you of gumballs? Yum!

Do you like my new $13.00 shoes? I do!

So, happy Saturday to all of you! I'm very thankful for food, flowers, happy clothes and shoes and PEOPLE, today. I'm going to put on my pink swimsuit and my board shorts (a necessity) and go swimming with Finn and Cadence! After that, they'll come over for a chicken salad lunch to wish Bill a Happy Father's DAY! Finn will nap and we'll talk and laugh! Tomorrow, everyone else will come for a yummy steak dinner complete with potatoes from the lovely blog, As Lilies Sewing. She is darling! She shared her cheesy potato recipe with her readers. I bought cake flower so I may make a delicious almond cake for our dessert. So, there is a lot to do today! Swim, cook, play, plant, sew, read, write, and delight in all that is good, true and beautiful. Have a peachy day and remember . . . YOU are loved and you are ENOUGH.

Bees and Hankies

My mother-in-law saved her hankies and when she died, I was the blessed recipient of these lovely little pieces of cloth. Because I have a bad case of the sneezes today, I decided to pull out these useful pretties. Last summer, at Jenny's beautiful backyard wedding, I hung them on the clothesline. I thought it was a precious idea, but Jenny (those opinionated brides!) nixed it. Not wanting to call attention to our clothesline, I guess it made sense. So, April sweetly unpegged them and I shoved them in the entryway chest. Today I pull them out again and think of my mother-in-law who was always so nice to me.

Also, in the entryway chest . . . Pom Pom's bees!
A clown (and a granny) can't have too many finger puppets!

So, I had to take this bee outside to visit the gnome and buzz around. I'm still in my pjs, but no one stared.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Because my instrument of choice is the kazoo, I can make my bees buzz, but today we buzzlessly (the kazoo is in one of my purses) checked on the pansy bed.

I am so thankful for this little pot of goodness. I can't stop sneezing and had been blowing my nose on paper napkins (lazy)! My auntie uses this magic elixir on her feet when she feels cold and tired. Its fragrance is a bit much for Bill, so I don't do it very often. It is my friend today, for sure.

I'm really enjoying THE CREATIVE CALL and I came upon a quote that I think you will love:

"This, then , is the beginning: to know that we have a right to the creative and to follow it where it leads. Why should that be so difficult? We know things when we are very young that we forget as we age." ~Deanna Metzger

Okay, just one more:
"When I'm operating at my best, my work is my prayer. It comes out of the same place that prayer comes out of --the center, the heart." ~Matthew Fox, PH.D

The author, Janice Elsheimer, speaks about "playing by heart" so that's what I hope I do today, and that's what I hope YOU can do today, too! Big LOVE! PP

Poems and One Quote

This, my friends and beloved family, is Ella Wheeler Wilcox. She wrote the poem below and I think she must have been a big time smarty pants because this poem holds some timeless truth.

Solitude
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air;
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go;
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all,--
There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.
For there is room in the halls of pleasure
For a large and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.

So, today I leave you with two good poems and a wise quotation. I hope you enjoy them!

Well, again. I really like nice people and Robert Burns looks VERY nice, doesn't he? I found a famous poem this morning and it reminded me of my fifth grade Valentine's Day dress (and only Valentine's Day dress) that my mother sewed for me. It was a print with "My love is like a red, red rose" written all over it. So many kids asked, "What's that mean?" and I said, "I don't really know!" but I will never forget it and here is the lovely poem:

A Red, Red Rose
by Robert Burns

O my luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June;
O my luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune.

O fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a'the seas gang dry

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi'the sun:
O I will luve thee still, my dear,
When the sands o'life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve,
And fare thee weel awhile!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.

Beautiful, don't you think?

"Know first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly."
~Epictetus

Well, this is a challenge for me. I want to make skirts to wear with pants (like the women from India who dress traditionally wear) and I love big pockets (it's the clown in me) and I really like tent-like dresses in quilting store calico but I'm sort of afraid to dress that way, because (SHOOT!) I DO care what people think and as much as I try to shake that off, I can't seem to! I read an article in Reader's Digest years ago in which a woman wore a fat suit and old lady clothes as an experiment. She wished to see if she'd be treated differently and (shocker!) she WAS. I guess I'm still too fragile in my self esteem to be the Bohemian I want to be. What do you think? Any advice? Words of wisdom? Brad? Kelli? Jeff? Jenny? Bill? (that's the good family line up) sweet fellow bloggers? Friends who love me enough to read this? Mom? Karol? Kristi? Laura? Amy? Please comment about the poems, too! Thank you for reading today and I absolutely REJOICE when I get comments and the bloggers are VERY nice people!

Candy Heart Wisdom - Ann Again

The little book of truths

My crowd of Ann and Andy

Such sweet faces!

When we lived near Seattle, I used some of my moments away (when Bill would relieve me from the four little kids chaos) to go to local antique shops, hunting for homemade Raggedys. I made some of my own to start with (I must have given them all away) and then simply enjoyed the search. I still have them and now, I'd like to make them some more clothes - bloomers, aprons, dresses with pockets, so as soon as I clear some space in "the studio" (ha, ha) I will break out my 35 year old sewing machine and whip up some wardrobe for my friendly group. Aren't they cute? I do love them. The little book is full of magic and I invite you to ponder some of the sweet simplicity these wise words hold. I like Ann because she is NICE. I really appreciate nice people. I do.
"A candy heart is very nice . . . but one can be just as nice and happy and full of sunshine without a candy heart."
"Happiness is very easy to catch when we love one another and are sweet all through."
"When one has pleasant thoughts running through one's head, one just has to be full of joyousness and the joyousness shines right up to the surface in a cheery smile."
"Very often we do not know how many creatures and even people do kind things for us in quiet ways."
"Every time we make a new friend, it is just like planting another flower in a beautiful garden filled with the flowers of friendship."
"For every speck of fun you give another, you receive an echo of that fun yourself."
"Many of the sweetest and most beautiful flowers grow from the ugliest of seeds, and we can never judge anyone until we know what is in his heart."
"If anyone sees a frown upon the face of a little boy or girl, all she has to do is place a cheery, smiley, loving kiss right on top of the frown, and the frown always leaves and a smile takes its place."

On the back of this little book it says, "In this wonderful little book you will find

gentle values that embrace the spirit of unconditional love and nobility of

character through the eyes of beloved Raggedy Ann. "

Yes. That's why I love her so much.

Hiding in the Bedroom

Yes, I could have gotten in the car and run a few errands while Bill's guests were here, but I'm still wanting to stay home. I cherish my freedom and because I have to go have "the medical procedure that all fifty-year old humans must have that shall not be named" on Thursday, I feel like the week is slipping by and I want to stop time by hanging out at home. So, trapped upstairs with the bear and my camera (dangerous) I messed around a little. I DID draw my parents an anniversary picture and I'll show it to you after I frame it. I also talked to Kelli on the phone. She put together Birdie's new kitchen and Birdie is in little girl HEAVEN playing house today. So, below you'll see my "digs" and some other random shots pertaining to my confinement!

Too much time trapped upstairs, unable to roam around the house in my usual distracted state, I realize that I am more than a little focus challenged!

This is ONE of my knitting projects and one of the few that I am SO proud of. Remember when everyone was knitting and felting stuff? I saw so many cool purses then! I know that now it isn't the "in thing" but I still like to gloat over this purse which was a perfect wacky accessory for Pom Pom!

Remember when I told you about Praying in Color? I've been doing that! This day, I prayed for Laura, Jill, Bryan, Mark and Kelli. Then I added my embellishments and lots of squiggles and yellow-y glows! I love journaling this way. I saw that Jewels on Eyes of Wonder (a beautiful blog!) does this when she journals, too! I have long been a doodler and even jazzed up my college notes when I took all my English classes five years ago. I feel FUN FUN FUN when I am drawing and coloring!

This is all the stuff I took up to our bedroom, so I could create and think (and mess around with my computer) while Bill entertained his friends downstairs. The Creative Call is VERY interesting and reminds me of The Artist's Way (which I find VERY inspiring) and I've been leafing through both lately. Brad and April gave me the Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader for Mother's Day and it is a delight. Makes me so hungry - I'm glad the guys will share pizza with me! I'm off to eat some! Thank you so much for stopping by to visit and I promise some deeper more meaningful words later. I realize I am a bit over the top with my constant posting, because I haven't really hit my summer stride yet. I am addicted to blogs and there are so many fun places to visit and snatch up inspiration! But, I really do need to move around a bit more, so don't worry - I'll mellow out soon! Love to you, DEAREST Reader! BYE!