wise words to brides, new and old

                                              Rules for Married Life


1. Handle Joe's money well. That she knew was important. She had noticed that married people had more trouble about money than almost anything else. She would keep accounts, she resolved, and never be extravagant-unless Joe wanted to be.


2. Keep yourself looking nice when Joe's around. Don't plaster on sticky creams at night, or wear your hair in curlers. She would put up her hair after he went to work, she planned.


3. Wear pretty house dresses, like Mamma does, and see that they're always clean. Some organdy aprons would be nice, too.


4. Learn to cook. Betsy frowned over that one. You're fairly bright. You can learn if you try.


5. Always, always, be gentle and loving. No matter if you're tired or feeling cross. Papa and Mamma don't quarrel, she thought. You and Joe don't need to, either.

Betsy's Wedding

Maud Hart Lovelace

Since it is the season of brides, I thought you would enjoy Betsy's sagacious words!

"congratulations"

A celebration of another order, Alan's this time. We sent out invitations, decorated with cute things and cooked good food.

Friends and family showed up on this lovely Saturday in June and we enjoyed the time together to honor Alan upon his recent graduation from college. Then we stopped and prayed God's blessings on him and his future.

I positively could not have done this without the expended help from several others. Claire was a tremendous help with her creative art contributions, the making of a strawberry trifle, and sticking with me in the kitchen preparing this and that. I absolutely love having her as a daughter-in-law. A good friend came early and helped in the kitchen along with the baking of a delicious chocolate-peppermint cake. Then many others appeared in the kitchen and chipped right in conversing all the while during the washing up of all the china, silverware and glasses.

A special thanks goes to my photographer, seventeen year old Priscilla. Without her I would have no way of visually reliving the day's joys, of which there were many.

love tunes

    June days and an anniversary to celebrate.

Thirty-four years later we linger after an extremely delicious dinner eaten outside by the light of the moon and the glow of twinkling candles.

 There was the gentlest of breezes to brush our faces and whisper love tunes that only lovers could hear.

A Monday in May

I am scanning old photos and iphotoing like crazy today as we prepare Alan's graduation video for the luncheon we are giving in his honor on Saturday.

And here is something to give you a totally delightful pause in your day.

 Charlotte will be taking lessons on a string instrument in the fall. I have been faithfully birthing this thought in her since she was a wee little thing. Cello would be the string instrument of my choice, but she planned on trying both the violin and cello to decide what fits her the best...although watching this young woman play her violin might rather nip it in the bud.

"Do you think you could do this some day with classic ballet moves, Charlotte?" 

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ahoy little matey!

A baby boy expected in July put me to dreaming of a soft flannel blanket for his mother to swaddle him. Nautical themes for the nursery led me to sew and embroider this blanket of blue and white pinstripe

adding a crocheted edging of bright cardinal red.

This was wrapped in blue tissue paper and placed in a blue and white polka-dotted box with these baby wash cloths to wait for the little matey to make his appearance.

Snap! Some of what we did

Sometimes even I can be amazed at what can be fitted into a short period of time. Here are a few things we did while away.

 I liked the idea of a picnic using my English picnic basket with foods purchased from the food coop and local farmers' market. 

A planned visit to a historical site was on the agenda.

 Do you happen to know what happened on April 9, 1865 in our nation's history?

General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. The actual signing was done in the private home of the McLeans.

on the steps of the McLean House

Room service, a super treat to some while my husband and I had evening plans to dine in a fancy restaurant.

When I asked Charlotte what was her favorite part of the weekend, she said walking across the glass walkway that led from the hotel's front driveway to downtown. This walkway crossed the Western and Norfolk RR tracks, a huge part of this city's and the hotel's history.

Farmer's Market

Top of a mountain

Riding an elephant, this makes it official, three out of four of my children have had the experience of riding an elephant. 

Does anyone want to guess what town we stayed in?

Leaving town

It seemed like a good idea back in March when the everyday care of mother seemed to stretch out like miles and miles of rippling meadow grass. We all might need a diversion, something to look forward to and anticipate. I discovered such things aid greatly when other changes erupt the norm, therefore, a small trip was planned and it was arranged that my sister and niece would be coming to stay with mother.

After mother died, along with the funeral traveling and extras I thought about canceling. Maybe Charlotte's comment, " I will be disappointed if we don't go" gave me the energy to carry on as planned.
Whatever, we are on our way, a small out-of-towner with the girls.

I'll keep you posted.

this was Sunday

Now I remember some of the reasons why I love small private colleges the best.

Graduation ceremonies held outside under large established trees on the lawn. The excitement was mounting as we crossed the campus. The same campus my husband and I attended and graduated from many years ago.  Actually our family has quite a history of graduates from this school through the years. 

Where else would you get refreshments of lemonade and cookies?

A two hour drive back home because Sunday had another wonderful event to be a part of at Witt and Claire's house. I love how Claire tells the story. Since she and Witt planned and orchestrated this fete, her insights are best. But let me just say from my end, it was a superbly crowning evening. I can not think of one thing to change to make it better. It was relaxing, fun, and filled with family laughter and conversation.

 A box of homemade truffles and
 "Love Letters" tied with a pink and white grosgrain ribbon to be read later.

I am oozing.

this was Saturday

Piano pieces played flawlessly.

 A quick change of clothes in order to dance at the Garden Performance downtown at the old train depot.

She is growing up and learning the discipline of practice and performance well.

the winter of Elgar

My five senses prickle my brain and have tendencies to create strong feelings of recall for specific times in my life. For example, when I was pregnant with my first child in 1982 and very nauseous for the first four months, "Chariots of Fire" received the Oscar as best picture for 1981. I lay on the couch and watched the Oscars on television while the runners ran alongside the shore and the theme song was playing, extremely beautiful and moving. For years, literally years, I would hear the song on the radio and an awful feeling of nausea would come creeping into my stomach.

This winter was the year of this magnificent song. I would play it throughout my day.

I will play this song often in the days to come and it will bring back vivid memories of the months that my mother lived downstairs in my bedroom.

May 3, 2012

The grayness of the overcast sky was lugubriously observed as I drew back the hotel curtains.

 Equivocalness wrestled in my soul.

 I was musing a forecast that was predicting a hot, sunny day. 

Just as we filed out of the church doors, concluding a beautiful service, the sun began to shine and heat up the day.

 The contrasts created in the clarity and shadows followed us to the graveside.

A few days before Mother moved into my home I bought a black dress, then I set about searching shoe departments every time I went out hoping to find a pair of red shoes. I remember the day I came home with my acquisition. I opened the box to show them to my mother and her delight in their bright cherry red color brought me happiness too.

This was probably the last time I had of sharing this sort of moment with my mother.

Black dresses and red shoes will forever stir certain feelings in me.