Hearth and Home

SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2011

Where I'm From

My fellow Kentuckian Wendell Berry has voiced the belief that we need to understand our roots to know our place in this world.

"If you don't know where you're from, 

you'll have a hard time saying where you're going." 

~Wendell Berry

The lovely Searcy from Old Southern Garden was the inspiration for a previous post; a post reminiscent of a poem by George Ella Lyon.  

Where I'm From

I am from clothespins, 

from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride. 

I am from the dirt under the back porch.

(Black, glistening, 

it tasted like beets.) 

I am from the forsythia bush

the Dutch elm

whose long-gone limbs I remember

as if they were my own.

I'm from fudge and eyeglasses, 

          from Imogene and Alafair. 

I'm from the know-it-alls

          and the pass-it-ons, 

from Perk up! and Pipe down! 

I'm from He restoreth my soul

          with a cottonball lamb

          and ten verses I can say myself.

I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch, 

fried corn and strong coffee. 

From the finger my grandfather lost 

          to the auger, 

the eye my father shut to keep his sight.

Under my bed was a dress box

spilling old pictures, 

a sift of lost faces

to drift beneath my dreams. 

I am from those moments--

snapped before I budded --

leaf-fall from the family tree.

~George Ella Lyon

Now it is your turn.  Here is a template to write your version of Where I'm From and I will post my version at the very bottom.  If you chose to participate, I ask that you link back to this post so that I may visit and enjoy your poem.

I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.

I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).

I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)

I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).

I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one).

From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).

I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.

I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).

From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member).

I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).

Your version of George Ella Lyon's poem "Where I'm From"

(Collection closed)

Link tool by inlinkz.com

Where I'm From

I am from old fruit jars, 

from White Lily and Basse's Choice.

I am from the tall, white porch columns.

( graceful, slender ladies

 cool under the heat

 of a noon day sun.)

I am from the old garden roses, 

the ancient white lilac 

hugging the east garden wall 

in it's lush frilly petticoat beauty.

I am from cream pulled candy and bluest of blue eyes, 

from Lucien and Fairy.

I am from the orators and philosophers.

From mind your manners! and remember your people!

I am from All Things Bright And Beautiful and 

the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

I'm from Byrd and Duke's line,

corn pone and bourbon.

From the boat ride my grandfather took through the courthouse

 during the 1937 flood,

the dictionary my uncle 

bought as a birthday gift for my mother

before being sent to France during World War II.

In the bottom dresser drawer

folded into a tight triangle,

the flag  given to my grandmother

reminding me of the price that we pay for freedom.

I am from those Second Sons--

pushing through the Cumberland Gap

to put down family roots 

stretching from the Old Dominion

to the Bluegrass.

SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2011

The Most Important Words

The six most important words:  "I admit I made a mistake."

The five most important words:  "You did a good job."

The four most important words:  "What is your opinion?"

The three most important words:  "If you please."

The two most important words:  "Thank you."

The one most important word:  "We."

The least important word:  "I."

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Looking Forward To...

"Dirty hands, iced tea, garden fragrances thick in the air and a blanket of color before me, who could ask for more?"

~Bev Adams

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2011

It's Coming

Are you ready?

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2011

Januweary

The color of springtime is in the flowers, 

the color of winter is in the imagination.

~Ward Elliot Hour

After the hustle and bustle of Christmas, January is typically my quiet month; a time to recharge before Spring brings forth the joys (and work) of gardening.  This is the time of year to rest and relax in front of this...

"The happiness of the domestic fireside is the first bone of Heaven; and it is well it is so, since it is that which is the lot of the mass of mankind"

~Thomas Jefferson

January is the time to enjoy as much of this as possible....

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude

and the pleasure of company.

It is the time to enjoy as many of these as possible...

"You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me."

~ C.S. Lewis

And, if all else fails....stay here until Spring....

"The feeling of sleepiness when you are not in bed, and can't get there,

is the meanest feeling in the world."

~ Edgar Watson Howe

TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2011

I Am Thankful

I sit in quiet contemplation of the last year and breath a sigh of relief. Having made it through the year with only minor injuries, I look back and know that I am blessed.  We survived  moving three times in a 9 month period; making us feel like a band of traveling gypsies. You should know that my personality is not one suited to living out of boxes. : )

I am by every definition of the word a homebody. Home is being surrounded by my most cherished possession. Home is knowing every nook and cranny as well as my own face.  It is being able to close your eyes and seeing the exact pattern the sun will make on the floor at different times of the day and the moon at night.  Home.  The word alone feels comforting.

"I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.... I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby." ~Nancie J. Carmody

Nine months ago I packed all of my belongings and left my home in the hands of a realtor.  I, along with my family, set out to make a new home in another state.  I will spare you the details...it did not go as planned  Having, now, returned to our home, we have a greater appreciation than we've ever known.  The front door that swells during the winter isn't the bother that it once was, nor is the telephone booth sized shower.  Yes, the door still swells and the shower is still terribly small, but our perception of them has changed.  Instead of nit picking, I now chose to smile and love it all, for I am blessed to have a home so sweet.

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst 

From the moment he wakes up things just do not go Alexander's way. Gum in his hair, getting out of bed, he trips on a skateboard and drops his sweater into a sink full of water. At breakfast, his brothers Nick and Anthony reach into their cereal boxes and pull out amazing prizes, while all Alexander ends up with is cereal.  It is all down hill from there...criticized for his singing, reduced to third best friend and no dessert in his lunch. No wonder Alexander wants to move to Australia!

Haven't we all had days like these?  While I don't foresee a move to Australia, I have been trying to change my attitude about these days.  Below is a list of 100 blessing that I've compiled to remind myself that I have many more reasons to be happy rather than sad.

In no particular order....

My Blessing
1. my health
2. my mother
3. my father
4. Paine (my son)
5.Madeline (my daughter)
6.  Hayden (my son)
7.  Paul (my husband)
8.  my brother and sisters
9. sleeping late on the weekend
10. beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows of Autumn
11.  good friends, who love me
12.  never knowing real hunger
13. always having a home
14.  being able to read and write
15. a warm safe bed to return to at night
16. central heating
17. good books
18.  a comfortable chair
19.  freedom to worship
20. Miss Kitty (our sweet seven year old cat)
21. my husbands unfailing love
22. getting control of the t.v. remote
23. good movies
24. soothing pots of tea
25. God's love
26.  the good health of my children
27. good health of my mom
28. good health of my dad
29. Chelsie (our beautiful Sheltie that died last year)
30. freedom to make my own decisions
31. delicious food
32. wonderful childhood memories
33.the right to vote
34. walking quietly in the woods
35. watching birds
36. growing up with horses
37. warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookies
38. comfort food
39. hot shower to soothe aching muscles
40. a funny joke
41. sitting in the sunshine
42. chocolate
43. smell of citrus
44. bubbles
45.Thanksgiving celebrations
46. Peonies
47. the smell of freshly mowed grass
48. red, juicy apples
49. field trips with kindergarteners
50. birthdays
51. cake
52. teaching Sunday School
53. quiet time
54. mood lifting music
55. freshly painted rooms
56.Christmas with family
57. reading under an apple tree
58. warm colorful quilts
59. Christmas church services
60. dinner in the oven
61. the kindness of strangers
62. a baby's smile
63. lilacs in the Spring
64. Thursday morning bible study
65. used book stores
66. modern appliances that make life so much easier
67. seeing the sun rise over the hill in Cooperfield (our neighborhood)
68. seeing the sun set over the Pacific Ocean
69. collecting seashells on Coronado Island
70. flying in an airplane
71. a new perfume
72. mystery shows on t.v.
73. going to the movies
74. a quiet house
75. taking a beautiful drive
76. baking cookies
77. painting a beautiful picture, when I didn't know that I could.
78. having a reliable car to drive
79. spending the day with my Aunt Minnie
80. the internet - being able to communicate with anyone/anywhere
81. cuddling in bed with Hayden
82. watching Paine play football
83. having an afternoon with my parents
84. spending a few hours alone in Joseph-Beth (local bookstore)
85. the smell of a new baby
86. fresh brewed coffee
87. a surprise snow storm
88. finding money in a jacket pocket
89. fresh gingerbread
90. being inspired to create
91. waking up full of energy and in a great mood
92. reading something that resonates
93. freshly washed hair
94. the beauty that is my dad's garden
95. cold watermelon on a hot day
96. lemon scented furniture polish
97. cool, clean cotton sheets on a hot summer night
98. standing between the lines of clothes hung to dry
99. warm flannel sheets
100. freedom to give and receive love

I feel better already!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010

Don't Buy Stuff

It's funny how it's the simply things that are often the hardest to learn lol

MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010

Once Again

We are moving....again.  Here is the short version of the story....


Sweet husband got new job and moved to Georgia.  We put house up for sale, found house to lease  and moved.  Within three days of our arrival sweet husband was sent to Korea for a few weeks. ( I wasn't believing him to be so sweet at that point).  Leased house had stinky, mystery smell, bugs, mold and as a bonus....scorpion in the basement.  Called sweet husband in Korea and cried.  Proving that he truly is sweet, he said for us to head back to Kentucky.

 That is were we've been since....

Now we are moving.....in three short weeks.

It is just as hard to leave as it was before, but we know that it is for the best.  I will chose to be happy and look forward to what this new adventure has in store for us.

I pinky promise to write if you'll pinky promise to comment....Deal?

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2010

It's The Simple Things

Bleak Winter

The ceaseless gray days of winter are starting to get me down.

Our lives are being dictated by the latest weather forecast and too many days trapped inside has left us feeling positively horrid. (Make sure to read that last sentence with your very best Boston Brahmin accent)

 In an effort to push back the dreariness, I've chosen to completely ignore energy conservation and leave the lamps on virtually all day.


I will drag myself from an attitude of abasement by making a list to remind of the simple pleasures life has to offer.  After all, it is the simple things that truly light up our lives....no electricity needed!

My list...

the warm, cosy fire that I've had burning for most of the day

a cup of tea while sitting in my favorite chair

hot, fresh croissants...that I made from scratch!

bouquet of tulips on the mantle... sent by my loving husband

a weekend trip to a warmer climate

the joy of seeing The Young Victoria

What makes your list?

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

Above The Pearls

Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones

It appears that I've decided to become 'all fancy' and get my own .com!  For a person with no inclination for html, I did it all on my own and I'm quite proud of that fact.  I now feel like an absolute princess....so, when you pass by please remember to wave....above the pearls and below the tiara.  ; )

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2010

You've Gotta Laugh

Snowing....again!  Sometimes you've just gotta laugh.  This might help

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010

Snow Day!

Mother Nature has been keeping us on our toes recently.  Lots of snow and incredibly cold temperatures have blessed us with two "snow days".  While we enjoy these unexpected mini vacations, I look around and see the havoc these snow days wreak on my home.

Hats, coats and gloves are strewn all about the front foyer and extra laundry is piled from frequent changes.  The remains of hot cocoa and cinnamon toast litter the counter top and I wonder if I have the energy to tackle it all.

I've had a cold for the past week and have been left weak and sleep deprived.  At times like these I just want to run away, but we all know that it isn't realistic :)  Being a homemaker is a 24/7 job and, while you don't get sick days off, you can lighten up on yourself.

Know and accept that things are not going to be perfect for a while.  Do the bare minimum!  No, the floor does not need moped right now.  It can wait...but, a quick spritz and wipe of the countertops is doable and should not exhaust you.  Hopefully, it will even give you a little lift to see that shiny expanse of clean.

Have the children gather all of their wet clothing and toss them (the clothes...not the children lol) into the washer.  If they are big enough to play in the snow, then they are big enough to contribute to the clean up of it.  Besides, they will love to slip on those socks, gloves and hates, toasty and warm from the dryer.....and head back out.

Remember, whether ill or not, this is your snow day, too.  Pamper yourself a little with some hot cocoa, a good book and some warm fuzzy socks.  Here in the south  we don't often get these surprise vacations, so let's all enjoy it!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2010

Life

Jack Davis Art

I came upon this recently on ylcf ... Lanier always posts such lovely things.  It is  a perfect poem for this time of year.  Enjoy!

             Life by Henry Van Dyke

"LET me but live my life from year to year,

With forward face and unreluctant soul;

Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;

Not mourning for the things that disappear

In the dim past, nor holding back in fear

From what the future veils; but with a whole

And happy heart, that pays its toll

To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.

So let the way wind up the hill or down,

O’er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:

Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,

New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,

My heart will keep the courage of the quest,

And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2009

The Weather Outside is Frightful...

My apologies to Frank Sinatra....

     Rain, snow, ice --- here in Kentucky we are expecting them all today!  While it may be frightful outside, we can make it quite delightful inside....with a little help from Betty Crocker and her hot cocoa recipe.

     Mix 1/4 cup of sugar with 1/4 cup cocoa.  To this add 1 1/2 cups of water.  Bring it too a boil over low heat then add 5 1/2 cups of milk and heat until scalded (do not boil).  A pinch of salt and a drop of vanilla finishes it off....but to make it truly sublime we all know that you need tiny marshmallows and a candy can stirrer!  (yields 6-8  servings...so why not invite a friend?!)

Weary Little Souls

(Written earlier this morning)

     The last day of the year and I am sitting in bed contemplating what the new year has in store for us.  This year has had a many ups and downs and at times I've cried to God to help us get off this seesaw!  So, at once I am happy and sad to see 2009 take it's final bow tonight, but I am determined to make the best of 2010.

     As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, I admit to wanting to fuss over everything left undone before the clock strikes midnight.  Yet, I do not want to carry weariness and anxiety into the new year.  Perfectionism is draining and, if I believed in new year resolutions, I would resolve to do away with such a horrid habit! I want to welcome 2010 with a light heart.  Here is my plan:

     Stick to the plan - A daily schedule is my best friend. I know the fear of the unexpected visitor showing up at the front door just as your children have pulled every single thing out of the hall closet, the sink couldn't hold another dirty dish and Cheerios crunch with every step you take.  The ensuing panic/anxiety leaves me feeling worn out and this is where a schedule will help.  I'm not talking about a color-coded, power-point presentation kind of schedule.  I'm thinking bare bones kind of plan.  A plan that you can live with and not feel as if it weighs you down.  Of course, everyones will look different, but here is mine...Monday is laundry and bills....Tuesday is marketing....Wednesday is baking and ironing....Thursday is errands and projects...and Friday is for cleaning.
     On Monday's, I will not let that pile of books, that haven't a home, bother me because I know I will deal with them on Thursday (project day). While Friday's are my cleaning day, the basics will be done everyday...wipe the toothpaste out of the sink :) , give the floors a quick sweep and put things to right.  Friday is about the real cleaning, but daily it will look good enough for unexpected visitors.
     When you become weary from the neverending cycle of cleaning remember Elisabeth Elliot's words "when in doubt about what to do, do the next thing."

Be creative- No, you aren't expected to create a masterpiece each day :) , but do attempt to do something creative each day.  It can be as simple as coloring in your children's coloring book or picking wild flowers to fill a jelly jar.  For a moment your mind will be refreshed by these simple acts and give you time to thank God for His creation.

Soul pampering- All too often when we are overwhelmed by lifes demands we attempt to heal the weariness by pampering our bodies.  Of course, there are times when our bodies do need this pampering, but when the weariness if 'bone deep', you will need something more.  Spending more time in Bible reading and prayer can heal your weary soul.  The Lord's words have the power to soothe and reenergize.  Remember to pray each day that His will be done and may your life, actions and thoughts be a glory unto Him.

Happy New Year!!

In His Peace,

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2009

A Time To Rest

The hustle and bustle of Christmas has passed.  Let us all take some time to reflect on the wonderful memories we have of 2009 and  look forward to the coming year.  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and I send prayers and good wishes for a very Happy New Year!

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

By The Pond

It looks like moving day is quickly approaching and I'm feeling more than a little overwhelmed, but I finally know where I will be living. That is a positive, right?

We've leased this lovely little house for the next year....(I'm not terribly fond of the blue, but you won't catch me on a ladder trying to remedy it's unfortunate coloring).Besides, the yard more than makes up for it.

Did I mention that it has a wonderful screened in porch? I plan to spend most of my time on it, sipping tea and reading some Elizabeth Goudge....perhaps I will glance up ever so often to take a look at this...
Yes, that was bragging, but you must forgive me for I will be terribly homesick.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2009

My Symphony

30 Days. Our house has been on the market for 30 days. I must admit to being more than a little depressed by this. After all, our last house sold in only 12 days! I know...it was a completely different market 4 long years ago, but it doesn't make me feel a lot better. I remind myself that this isn't a buyers market or a sellers market...it's God's market. No matter how much I beg and plead He has a plan that will be shown to me in due time. I know, I know....patience.

During my time of waiting, I've wondered where we will end up. A house is such a personal matter. My taste has changed as I've grown older....God bless my husband for not putting up a fuss about the early years of pink and frilly :) While I desire to live in the country with a few acres of solitude, I wonder if that is the best thing for my children. They've always lived in neighborhoods with several friends waiting just outside the door. There is an up and down side to both of these...

What about the physical house itself? I believe we've been programmed to believe that bigger is better, but in my experience it is not true. To this day our family misses our 1,800 square foot Cape Cod "starter" home. We now live in a house that is over 3,000 square feet, but have never loved it like the smaller one. That is exactly what I believe you need to do....truly love your home. Does it need to be perfect? Of course not. Does it need to be professionally decorated? That would be NO. What it does need is to reflect you. What do you love? What do you hold sacred? What matters most?

It is so easy to feel intimidated when reading some of the incredible decorating blogs and don't even get me started on the decorating magazines! They make it look effortless and I often just don't have the extra time or energy to try even half of what they do, but God bless them for doing it. Hopefully someday I will be able to put some of their good ideas to use, but for now I will just enjoy reading about their efforts.

So, while I don't usually have a "picture perfect" home, it does always reflect where my heart is.....


"To live content with small means;
To seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
To be worthy , not respectable, and wealthy, not rich;
To study hard, think quietly,
Talk gently,
Act frankly;
To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart;
To bear all cheerfully,
Do all bravely,
Await occasions,
Hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony."

By William Henry Channing 

(above photo is of the Webster Cottage...the orginal next-to-nothing house)

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009

Anyone???

It's time for someone...anyone...to find me a magic wand!!!! I'm tired of cleaning, painting, organizing and being unpaid labor. I know....I need a little cheese to go with my whine.