Shopping for Headstones

It's a strange thing to do, almost surreal, this kind of shopping. Sis and I made a few decisions a month ago...the company, the style, the price, but we wanted something special. We want to include my mother's name and dates, of course, her favorite psalm, and her favorite spot on this earth.

We recently found a letter from my mother to hers. It was written after my parents were married, but before my grandmother had remarried. In it my mother said, "Say, Mom, we were talking and would hate to see the cottage sold. If there's any way that we can help, we want to so that it won't have to be." My grandmother would often tell the story of how my mother loved the lake and loved the cottage and would say that she didn't care if she had anything as long as she could have that. My mother was looking forward to spending time there this summer. She was last there in 2008 because of her illness.

So this morning we have been looking at pictures of the lake and I do believe that we've settled on this one. It will be etched upon her stone much like a pencil sketch. I think that she would have approved.

Comments are closed because this is a journal entry sort of post for remembering...

Have a great weekend!

Edited to Add: To see the final result, click on the title.

Campanula

What a nice spot of color my little bucket of Campanula provides on such a rainy, gray day.

It's all thanks to my sister who arrived home with gifts—the plant and a can of peppermint hot chocolate from Trader Joe's. Hmmm, the peppermint hot chocolate is very tasty.

I'm off to create a runner for a fussy little spot. Catch you later...

ETA: Whoops! Forgot to mention one little thing. How does this background look to you? I read somewhere that wide three column backgrounds worked well with stretch minima templates. I was getting so tired of the bland stuff available for stretch minima. It looks great on my screen, though I'm learning that what looks fine here may not look so fine on another's computer.

ETA Again:



Thanks for the input...as you can see, the post text is all on the background in my world. Not so for the sidebar, but not completely awful. I will be going back to the drawing board tomorrow. I'll just enjoy it for myself today. Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! Hope that some of the background sites will pick up doing more minima stretch backgrounds. Most of the ones I have found are just too blah. Yes, Aunt Amelia, I know not to mess with the template. I like minima stretch just fine and will use a plain background before switching it. Again, thanks for telling me the truth!! :D

NOT AGAIN! Say, does this new spacing for text work?

NOT AGAIN again...

I've learned a few things while playing today. It's all about screen resolution, Baby. The easy way to control screen resolution is to press the Ctrl button while rolling the little gizmo on top of one's mouse. I'll be able to enjoy anyone's blog knowing this. If words spill over on the side, I'll rein them in. If font is too small, I'll increase it. Phew! I hope that I've found a background that isn't too obtrusive and still fills my need for change. Thanks for the help!

Prattle, Ramble, Blather On

Did you have a good ♥Valentine's Day♥? I'm going to ask the most impertinent question in a line or two. Prepare yourself! My sister wrote me an email on Valentine's Day. She shared that her husband gave her a surprise gift—a Pandora bracelet. When I wrote back, I shared that mine had also given me a surprise gift—three peanut butter crackers and a glass of milk. So here's the question: did you have more of a bracelet kind of day or a peanut butter cracker kind of day? :D

We enjoyed a quiet Valentine's with a nice dinner of pork roast, baked potatoes, and roasted asparagus. I made whoopie pies with heart shape cut-outs for the kids and called it good. That we ourselves ate too many whoopie pies...

Just this morning, I finished the last of the letters to be written. Some days were simply too difficult to sit down to the task. Today, having safely passed the one-month mark, it seemed as if I could do it. It is one of those tasks that must be done, that one feels better for having done, and that is meaningful for both the writer and the receiver. Anyway, it is a task accomplished and one that leaves me feeling brighter for it.

I'm still in Lark Rise or Candleford as the case may be. My understanding is that season 4 is the end. What a shame! How ridiculous to think that the stories are all told. Stories are never all told. If it mattered at all, I would write to the producers and writers and tell them that they are more than equal to the task and that this program provides so many with great enjoyment, even comfort. In this country, excellent programs go on for ten years without the bat of an eye. Four? A mere four? Pah!

Prattle, ramble, blather on is what I'm reduced to; I do hope that I can do better soon. Until then, create a wonderful day!

Messy and Thrilling and Lovely, Too

Such a lovely thought and so beautifully, simply said.

I do love Brin's Messy, Thrilling Life.

My own life is a lot more messy than thrilling right now. As you keep reminding me, it's to be expected. Here's to a brighter day and a better week!

My mother's favorite Psalm was/is 139; mine is Psalm 100.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.