In The Blink of an Eye...

In the blink of an eye I went from Mrs. to Ms., from wife to widow, from we to me, from constant caregiver to emptiness. Life will never be the same. Now it's time for me to heal, to get to know me and enjoy my own company. I'm looking forward to the new chapters of my life. Life is either a weary ordeal or a magical adventure.  I will be focusing on magical adventures in 2020. ~Edna~

A New Beginning...

It's hard to believe another year has come and gone.  Time flies when you are having fun, and even when you are not.  A lot of things on my *To Do List* did not even get started but I am so thankful for the progress that was made in 2018.

We have started eating all of our meals at the dining table.  We just recently cut the cord with satellite and are in the process of setting up WiFi streaming and over the air antenna.  We also cancelled a couple of services that no longer are used frequently.  We love our simple debt free life and 2019 is going to be better!

There are some advantages to getting older.  One of them being you can do pretty much as you please and no body notices  :)

Until next time...
~Edna~

   

Kitchen Cart...

When you are a single person, you take on all sorts of responsibilities if you are a homeowner or apartment dweller.  When you marry, responsibilities tend to be divided among spouses; each one having certain duties, usually the wife taking care of the inside of the house and the husband taking care of every thing else...repairs, yard duties and Honey Do's.  We take a lot of things for granted that our spouse does and over the years those things just all seem to get lost/unnoticed in every day living.

Since Poppa has become immobile a couple of years ago, I have had to learn a lot of those things that I took for granted that he did.  It has been extremely difficult for him to relinquish what was considered his job and it was extremely difficult for me to take on those duties, but I must say, I am delighted to learn that I CAN do some things that I never thought possible.  I would have never learned/known this if life had not changed for us.

The first thing I put together was his wheelchair.  From there I have acquired my own tools, small and light weight enough for me to handle...a new lawn mower and POWER TOOLS!!

My most recent project and current creative outlet was putting together a new cart for our kitchen to replace a stainless steel cart that we had.  I love this new cart.  There is room on top for my Kitchenaid MONSTER MIXER and still have space to work.  An added drawer is nice and there is a shelf inside to contain some of my appliances and keep them out of sight but within easy reach.

Today Poppa helped me make banana pudding.  He is learning some things about house duties that can be done from a wheelchair, but I still have not found a way to spark an interest enough that he wants to learn to cook! [ but I haven't given up yet ...]

Our new cart is finished just in time to do some holiday baking.  Learn something new this next year.  Expand and grow.  Love and cherish each other, your family and friends.  Life can change in an instant.  ENJOY THE MOMENT!!

Creating is healing and coziness for the soul...

~Edna~

Simplicity

It has been my mission for a long time to simplify.  It is an ongoing mission that I am learning to apply to daily life.  The static of daily living can be very stressful if we don't learn to shut out the noise and enjoy the simple things of life, like gently falling rain, a beautiful sunset, new blossoms on a plant.

This year I am enjoying our raised garden.  Doing research and using techniques that my Mother used has been interesting.  After she retired she always had a beautiful, healthy, productive vegetable garden and she gardened by the moon signs in the Old Farmer's Almanac. I regret not taking the time to learn these techniques directly from her while she was alive or writing down her recipes for some of the wonderful things she cooked like her homemade fried apricot pies.  Like most young folks, I was not interested in those things at the time.  Now I cherish her memory and many of the things she taught me.

Yesterday was a fertile planting day.  Instead of planting, I took some cuttings from one of our Rosemary plants.  Hopefully the cuttings will take root and we will have more lovely smelling herbs that will be used for more then just cooking.  They make wonderful smelling mosquito repellent. I love the simplicity of them resting in a canning jar and reflecting the light from outside. 

We have been busy working on a hedge project that should be finished shortly.  I will share before and after pictures with you soon.

Slow down.  Be kind to yourself.  Comfort yourself.  Take time to dig in the dirt.  It's all healing and good for your soul. 

Anniversary...

Today is our 32nd wedding anniversary.  We got married at home, by the Justice of the Peace.  I wore khaki Bermuda shorts, a red and gold striped knit top, and leather Mexican huaraches. Actually I had planned to get married barefoot but looked down just as Judge Ruff started to speak and saw I was wearing my favorite shoes!
 

I am wearing my same wedding clothes today that I wore on that sweet day, and I even went outside this morning and dug a hole in our flowerbed for my new rose bush, wearing my wedding clothes.  Not many women would consider gardening in their wedding dress.
 

The marriage license cost was $7.50 and the tip to the Judge was $20.00.  The Judge also took our wedding picture and served the champagne just before we cut the small two tier wedding cake from the grocery store bakery.  Our simple wedding at home means just as much to us as if we had spent the price of a new house on a wedding ceremony, all for show. We left the next day on our honeymoon, pulling a small pop up travel trailer, headed for the Colorado mountains and new adventures.

If our neighbor comes over today to put a new fuel pump on Poppa's car, we may have him preside over the renewing of our vows but that really is not necessary.  The original vows took very well.  We both agree we would do it again in a heartbeat.  After all these years, it doesn't get any better than that.

And here it is July already...

Poppa hurt his knee several weeks ago and has very limited mobility for a while.  I hate it for him that he has been in pain and is unable to be as productive as he has always been.  He has always been the gentleman, the provider and spoiled me way beyond rotten.  Thanks to his tutelage, I have become quite proficient at working on lawn mowers, machinery maintenance, doing yard work and taking care of things that have always been his responsibility.  I have grown during this time.  We recently purchased a new zero turn riding lawnmower.  I love this piece of machinery!  It's more fun than operating a sewing machine.  We have also purchased a 20 volt battery operated weedeater, blower and pole saw.  I had no idea these things had so much power.  These tools are light weight and this soon to be seventy five years young woman does not have any problem using them.  I'm loving my power tools and learning that I can do much more than I thought I could.

This has been quite an adjustment for us.  Life has a way of throwing us some curves sometimes.  Poppa is on the mend and I will gladly relinquish some things back to him but some things I need to continue to do for my own well being.  Learning new things is good for the soul.

Letting go...

Letting go is a process and it takes time.  Even letting go of that old comfortable sweatshirt with the holes in it takes time. Once I got rid of the sweatshirt, I still catch myself going to the closet to find it, only to realize it's gone. Old habits are hard to break.

My sweet Auntie passed away on Christmas day last year.  She was more like a sister than an aunt. I find comfort in knowing that she is no longer suffering, but I still miss her.  Family members have finally decided to follow their heart with their love of traveling and adventure. I find comfort in knowing they are happy.  A wacky and funny friend of ten plus years decided to walk away with no explanation. I find comfort in knowing they are doing what is best for them.

I still catch myself wanting to share things with these people only to realize I don't have that responsibility any more.  Yes, letting go does take time; not just a day or a week but some day in the future you realize you have healed and only the sweet memories remain.

Time is a healer, a friend, a maker of dreams.

Who?

Mother Nature...

The weather has warmed nicely for February here in our part of East Texas.  I walked out this morning to pull a few weeds that had sprouted in our cobblestone walkway.  It felt good to be out and about again after being snuggled in all winter.

As I stepped back up on the porch, I noticed my garden tool laying under the porch swing, right where I had left it last year....now with a wasp nest attached.  I collect wasp nests for my autumn designs so I was extra thrilled with this find.  It was also a reminder from Mother Nature that is has been far too long since I worked in my sweet flower beds.  I'm hoping this year will be different.  The healing in my shoulder and arm are coming along nicely...thank you Lord!

Crochet and Life

As I sit here in the stillness of the morning, doing my needlework, I think how our lives are like a beautiful piece of crochet.  Number one, there has to be instructions.  We find that in the crochet pattern or instructions in the Bible for us.  Crochet needs a firm foundation to build on.  We need a firm foundation to build on, our Heavenly Father.  If we are not paying attention, we can make a mistake in our stitches that messes up the whole pattern. Same thing in real life.  When we make a mistake in crochet, we have to go back and correct it to the best of our ability. Yarn is very forgiving.  Same thing in real life.  Correct that mistake if possible.  God is very forgiving and all we have to do is ask. Each intricate stitch in crochet weaves together to make the finished piece.  So do the days of our life...

Where does the time go...

It's been a while since I posted.  The weather warmed and called me outside.  I have been deweeding my flowerbeds, getting rid of some plants, putting down weed barrier, top soil and mulch.  This time I am simplifying for real.  Those forty pound bags of top soil are not helping the torn ligament in my right arm, but I am on a mission!  I am also cleaning out and clearing out.  Our poor home has been neglected for many years while I was crafting and creating on a daily basis.  It's time for a change and long overdue.  Poppa (80) and me (72) are not getting any younger and we are finding it harder and harder to do things that we took for granted when we were younger.  Older age is not for the faint of heart.  Digging in the dirt is good for the soul and helps to put a lot of things in perspective.  Replacing the rat race with just BEING and ENJOYING is delightful.  I do find time for some needlework and Miss Beebs is a big help.



The good Lord is still in control...

For several months the good Lord has been speaking to me in a wee small voice to give up several things I love.  So softly in fact, I wasn't really sure it was Him, so I resisted.  Well, it was Him!  He grew tired of waiting, so He took care of it for me.  All of my FaceBook obligations suddenly ended along with a long time friendship.   I am happy to report, there is real life after the juvenile atmosphere of FaceBook. It's time to move forward.

It feels good...

The temperatures have cooled a wee bit and we are now cloudy with low 90's.  So much better than the sun shinny 104-106 days.  Lemon pepper chicken is slowly cooking in the crock pot.  Homemade bread is rising and will be ready to bake in another thirty minutes.  I have been working on a rag quilt for our bed as part of redecorating our bedroom.  Now that I have rescheduled my computer time, work load, doll and pattern making, I am enjoying loving our home again.  I need to get back on a schedule of assessing my life every three months or so and not let things get out of hand.  If we are not careful, we can take on too much and not realize it until it is too late.  Life on the farm is good again.  Did I just hear thunder??  Precious much needed rain would make this a perfect day...

UPDATE:  We did get .65 of an inch of precious rain.  A perfect day!
UPDATE UPDATE:  8.1 inches of rain in less than 24 hours!!