I Picked These For You

 "To stand by the beds and see the flowers awake is a heavenly delight."  Celia Thaxter

 "Art must take reality by surprise."  ~ Francoise Sagan

 Our washing machine died.  She was a good old girl.  Twenty years ago, I bought the cheapest and simplest washing machine I could find, carted it home in the family mini-van, and resumed the loads of laundry produced by a family of six.  I like bare bones appliances, so now we have a simple youngster in our laundry room, already chugging away.  It reminds me of a passage in one of my all-time favorite novels:
"At the back of the kitchen an archway led into what had probably been  a small scullery.  This too was stone-floored, and here stood a number of shining white electrical appliances.  A dishwasher, a clothes washer, a tall refrigerator, and a huge chest deep-freeze.  At the far end, a half-glassed door led directly out into the little garden.   By the door, in country fashion, stood a pair of rubber boots and a wooden tub of gardening tools.  An ancient raincoat and a battered felt hat hung from the hook."  September by Rosamunde Pilcher

I'll have to grow accustomed to this machine's sounds.  Our old one sounded like a NASA launch.  Bill and I both like to peg out the wash.  This day, with robust sunshine, will dry our sheets in no time.  
I've been reading Winston Churchill, A Life.  Fascinating.  I woke up in the wee hours to read more.  I like reading about man's restructuring of government, vision that helps the greater good, negotiations and rhetoric.  Two fascinating films about Churchill are The Gathering Storm and Into the Storm.  Gigi at Firefly Cottage told me about The Gathering Storm.  She also featured A Shine of Rainbows.  I love the color and the sea in this film.  Gigi has great taste in movies!  
I am keeping myself quite busy with knitting and reading.  In a few days, I am going to Kelli's house to stay with the three princesses, so she and Bryan can go to Cancun.  Bill will help.  I'll be tired.  I am looking forward to cuddling with Millie Rose.  She likes me.  We'll have a picnic at the park, catch up the laundry, eat macaroni and cheese and play with dolls.  Fun!
Thank you for stopping by and looking in on me.  
"When we write from experience we harvest our lives."
                                                    ~ Bonnie Goldberg