the graduation day

 It began with umbrellas and a rather steady rain, across the green lawn we walked with our umbrellas. Staff people from the school were trying their very best to wipe off the seats as much as possible...but it was basically a losing battle because the rain continued on gathering strength.

About ten minutes before the ceremony was to begin...

the sky cleared and the sun came out. The Ceremony took place under blue skies with a variety of cloud formations and the sun shining down on all of us.

 

                              And now we've come full circle. 

But so many amazing and wonderful things have happened since that day in August 2021. She has matured into a beautiful and mature young woman...a married woman as her first year anniversary is approaching on June 8th.

Congratulations to you, my Charlotte!❤️

she played

 The aim and final end of music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.   ~Johann Sebastian Bach

 I sat in the auditorium hearing and feeling the notes, the music of Mozart, Bach, Elgar, Gliere, and Mendelssohn being performed by her. I was very present in the moment listening with joy and tender pride as well as remembering the years that had gotten her to this place, her Senior Recital.

When she was just a wee baby I would whisper in her ear, "You shall play the strings". There was one time at the age of thirteen she wanted to quit the violin and I replied to her requests with complete sincerity,

"One day you will thank me".

 She has.

 

Charlotte's hard work, diligence, perseverance, and times of seemingly endless practicing have brought her to this place of beautiful accomplishment. But I would be remiss to not mention a necessary element of the overall picture as well, a part which flows strongly in my heart in the remembering. We, her parents, were always her most ardent cheerleaders.

  

My husband and I have purposely and gladly invested in Charlotte's music studies through the years. My husband has invested the finances required for all those years of piano and violin lessons. I have invested hours of faithfully driving her to her weekly lessons, and we've both invested time watching her through the many rehearsals, practices, recitals and concerts as she improved her skills and acquired the instruction needed to continue on to the next levels.  All this was done with complete happiness and  total willingness to see her achieve her goals. 

traveling to celebrate

 When something good happens, travel to celebrate.

Something good is happening this week and we are traveling a day to be there and to celebrate.  After almost four years, Charlotte is graduating from college!

 In our minds the memory certainly is not dormant of this particular day so well remembered with mixed emotions, and the four years (three years 9 months exactly) which have elapsed with all its mountains, valleys and in-between events are still seeking to find a place to settle.

canon rebel revisited

We live in a culture where everything is demanding our attention and where restful attention to any one thing is counter-cultural and out of sync with most of our habits.   ~unknown

On my closet shelf rested my Canon EOS Rebel, and I was ready to pick it up for photos once again in place of my smartphone.

 This was last week.  Nothing like living in the past😊... but last week was full and last week was so lovely.

Two springs ago I was fortunate enough to be in Louisville when the local Iris Society was having an iris bulb sale. I was able to get some bulbs of this beauty.

Nigella damascena, or love-in-a-mist as I prefer to call it, is bursting forth everywhere throughout my gardening areas. I love the effect it creates, especially by the back step. This one is white, but I also have periwinkle blue.

On Friday of last week the Precepts study of Matthew was completed, thus the ladies came for lunch as is the habit we have established. Since eggs are in abundance right now I made two quiches and served this with a seven-layer salad alongside a cucumber/onion salad. Dessert  was baked bananas served warm over vanilla ice cream with a crisp butter cookie on the side. Here is the recipe. Truly, if you like bananas it is the most easy, yet elegant dessert, to serve at any time or season.

And this is this week, thus far...

Light purple irises at Good Drop Ridge...

Immediately after my walk last evening I came up the ridge and the sun was in the west shining though the delicate petals creating  magical shadows all their own.

And I also observed the sunlight scattering through the colored- glass of the hummingbird feeder.

The white peonies are just opening and the pink ones are on the verge.  If you grow peonies you have certainly seen ants crawling on the flowers. These flowers provide food for the ants and in turn the ants protect the blossoms from other insects that would feed on the flowers.

Myrtle whose green eyes I was trying so hard to capture, simultaneous brightness and warmth are the green eyes of a feline. She was afraid of the camera so I was unable to get a good photo.

Our garlic bed through the wire fence. Without fencing around our vegetable gardens we would be compromised terribly by the wildlife, and the chickens as I do let them out to free-range for several hours in the later part of the day. As it is some critter got into our potato bed and ate half the planted  potatoes...it was fenced, we suspect a raccoon as the culprit.

Hallelujah Christ Arose!

 I got up early, not quite light, and looked out my bedroom window to see if I could see the sunrise...not yet. But the memories of Sunrise Services of my childhood and even up until about twenty years reigned strong, though I am not inclined to want to go out that early in the morning "dressed and in my right mind" these days. Actually, I have not heard of a Sunrise Service in quite some time in my area. Filling a mug with hot coffee out to the front porch rocker I sat to pray and to meditate. Oh, and to sing too! "Up from the ground He arose"... I love these day that we celebrate our Savior's Resurrection.

After almost filling a pew at church with family and close friends, we came home to the tantalizing smell of Roasted Lamb wafting through the house. I am discovering the added joy of having older children to help with some of the food prep and table arrangements. There were "stations" of those providing charcuterie boards and salads...

And the crew outside that set up in tables under the oak trees.

I finally became smart and assigned a different colored egg for each grandchild. Each child then is told to only hunt for their own color-assigned eggs. That was my part, others hid the eggs and helped by running around with them all over the place...back, front and side yards until they found them, though I expect I will find a few lone plastic eggs in the week to come.

The food was kept inside on the dining room table to keep it free of fallen or flying things and such. Then there was the concern spoken regarding the oak pollen seeds falling into the drink glasses or ice. I hopefully assuage those fears with tea towels.

"But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead  shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you."

Roman 8:11

The annual opening of the Resurrection eggs and marveling at the grandchildren telling the story. It blesses my heart to hear the truth retold over and over, from one generation to another.

sacred work, indeed

Holy Week. Even as I read the extra Scriptures and daily devotionals, and even as I meditate on this week and the historical and spiritual happenings that occurred  over 2,000 years ago... remembering the time my  Lord Christ Jesus went to the cross... I also continue on with the spring cleaning of my home that this time of year demands.  Deep cleaning the home and mindful of His redemptive work, a sinner saved by His grace. I worship and I discover immense sacredness in the spring cleaning. 

Since family and friends will gather here to celebrate this weekend, the screened porch needed to be cleaned. Look at the pollen! It coated everything with a thick layer. What a mess.

I removed the wicker furniture and hosed it all down. All this was done all by myself...solomente. I was very tired by the end of the day with all the furniture hauling and scrubbing and such.

The sitting/eating side of the porch was cleaned the next day. Of course, the pollen is still with us, but not to the point it has been thankfully .

I set up a little table..tea for two. Just because it invites.

noteworthy

noteworthy: worthy of or attracting attention especially because of some special excellence.

If this definition can be applied in regard to my own prosaically lived life then it is equally acknowledged that what I might consider noteworthy might seem rather dull to others. Nonetheless, there are many reasons for noting  distinct happenings and going-ons in one's life. Warning: What I might consider noteworthy might totally creep you out!😊

 Snakes, if you live in the south you learn to look out for them in the warm weather months, beginning around late March/ early April until right before the first frost. As I walk in warm weather my eyes are glancing all around and usually I am praying I will see any snakes if they are near enough to frighten or harm. We also have a couple of venomous snakes, mainly the Copperhead, which are also seen every summer. I have some answers to prayers on seeing these dangerous snakes.

 One evening right at dusk my husband and I were out walking the ridge, quick as lightening a Black Racer literally raced across our path coming from the field. It was fast and noteworthy as we saw the speed of it whipping less than three feet from us. It is much more common to see the slower slithering Black Rat snake, never missing a summer of having one of them in our yard or surrounding areas, but I had yet to see the  Black Racer until now.

And I must also say, we never, never go into the woods in the summer. One reason the ticks and chiggers, the other the snakes. We keep grass and fields mowed and also realize snakes help keep the rat and mouse population down. I must see some form of silver lining in such things.

the spirit of youth

"April has put a spirit of youth in everything.

                                                      ~William Shakespeare

 And with this "spirit of youth" birthing in my heart, my sixty plus bones longed to get outside to delve into the inviting soil as I planted lettuce, beet, pea, and bunching onion seeds as well as gathering the ordinary mop, vacuum, and old clean rags to begin the room by room spring cleaning inside.

But there is also the continual habit of observing, listening, smelling, and feeling the change of the season...new beginnings.

The celebration of His Resurrection is rousing in my heart too. The daily devotional readings, the vivid images imparted in my mind from the famous paintings of artists I've studied over the years, and the familiar hymns I find myself singing throughout the day.

And I've also completed a winter project, this pair of socks  began in 2019. But finally by sheer force of will I am happy to report they are finished! I did not appreciate knitting with the wool, though it is a lovely yarn with pleasing colors, nor did I like the *Signature needles that I used for knitting them. These two things evidently made it easy for me to slip them into a basket until I happened upon them this winter and realized I must, yes must, finish them. I am inserting a photo of the heel, each sock heel was knitted differently. I did the one on the left and maybe I was not wearing my reading glasses or I did not read the directions closely enough, whatever, by the time I got to the other sock I realized I was supposed to do the heel with ribbing. It is intended to be more "wear-worthy". Rather than redo the first one I decided no one will notice and I did actually want to knit the heel with the ribbing. That is my sock knitting mismatch tale. But they are finished and very comfortably wearable.

 One of the books I am currently reading along.

Embroidering is the current gentle art that is stirring my spirit. My sewing group met at my home Saturday before last and I was able to begin a new project from this book, my third creation.

I enjoyed listening to this podcast one evening as I was cleaning up the supper dishes. Hannah Anderson was the guest sharing one of her books, Turning of Days: Lessons from Nature, Season and Spirit. It is on my list of books to read.

How has the "spirit of youth" engaged you?

be my guest

"I am excessively fond of a cottage; there is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them".   ~ Jane Austen

"The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it."

 ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

"Please come in to Good Drop Cottage and make yourself right at home," this she spoke with as much warmth and grace in her voice as she genuinely felt. ~Me 

Because the living room is longer than it is wide, I wanted to  provide a division of sorts. I call this space the "Reading Nook".  It still could have a small bookcase in the corner which I hope to add when I find the perfect one. It is a sunny spot to sit, read, sip a cup of tea, and dream. There is also a turntable record player with some old albums. One guest reported she and her husband put on a record of the Carpenters and danced. Isn't that lovely?

"There is room in the smallest cottage for a happy loving pair".    ~Friedrich Schiller

The Grandfather clock was in my childhood home. My brother wanted it when my parents passed away and then when he died back in the summer of 2023, my sister-in-law gave it to me. This is a Ridgeway Clock  which was originally manufactured very close to where I now live. These clocks were popular in their day.  

See the little mouse?

 

"Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock..."

When we got the clock home we decided to put it in the cottage and we hired our clock keeper friend to get it working again. When Ridgeway Clocks were being sold as a small USA business locally, they would give their customers a little mouse to sit on the weights. Our friend was happy to have received a supply when they sold out to  a company in Michigan, that was in 2004. He gifted us with this little fellow! Herman rides the weights down daily, then we make sure he "holds on tight" as he rides up when winding the clock.

 

This is the "Queen's Room" named so because it has a queen-sized mattress on the bed.  No magic in that. The names of the rooms are not significant other than what we initially called them as we were furnishing the rooms. This southwest bedroom is full of sunshine.

My son lived for a couple of months in the other bedroom. He was nicknamed "the Professor" by my late father-in-law years ago. That name has stuck, since he stayed there the "Professor's Room" seemed to stick. I hope to stitch up the names of the rooms, frame them and  attach to the bedroom doors one day.

I even embroidered a set of pillowcases in the "Professors's Room".  My plan is to stitch Good Drop Cottage in the blank spaces, but the spacing is tricky and I just need to sit down with my needle and embroidery threads and do it.

If you forget anything we try to have a simple supply of items on the bathroom shelf.

When we were ripping out the kitchen, I convinced my husband to take the ceiling clear to the beaded board and please at least one wall I begged? I would have loved to have had the entire kitchen with the original beaded board, but I am thankful for what I did get!

"I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage, with my books, my family, and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post which any human power can give." ~ Thomas Jefferson

The kitchen is completely supplied with anything you would need for cooking and baking. Though I am still on the look out for pretty casserole dishes to add to the cupboard.

My grandchildren go into the dining room and the first thing they observe is the candy on the buffet, "Grandma, why is there candy on the table?" They know they are not allowed candy so I try to remember to put it up high when I know we will be over there. Their father helps with with certain things that need to be done at the cottage when he comes.  But my other guests are always welcome to enjoy as much sweet candy as they like.

There are still things that need to be added to the cottage, it is an ongoing process, but hopefully our guests can come here and always feel comfortable and welcomed.

For now it is only for friends and family...or if friends or family know someone that need a getaway. It is our pleasure to be able provide this cottage.

And do not forget to sign the Guestbook!

There are plans in the making to create an inviting and enjoyable place outside too. I am presently planting a flower garden and establishing garden beds, the roofed open area above will be a lighted arbor to dine under during mild days and evenings.

The view from the front porch and the arbor.

For the Christ-child that comes is the Master of all; No palace too great no cottage too small.  ~Phillips Brooks