A Haven for Vee

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Holding Time and a Home Together Part II

I forgot that there was no Hodge Podge today so, as I was planning to post, I'm going with Plan B. If Plan B was any good, I'd have called it Plan A. (An expression borrowed from a pastor friend of mine.) Doesn't this inspire confidence for today's post? ツ
I failed to mention in the first post that sometimes winter decor can look and feel very cold. If one lives in a cold climate, cold-looking decor simply doesn't fly, except for the ice palace inns. My goal is to create winter and warmth.

I love displaying children's mittens, especially if I know whose they were (my son's).

This poor kitchen of mine. I still need to do ~~something~~ paint, but I can "make do" quite well in order to avoid a mess.

Yes, that is a winter scarf tied around the chair. Believe it or not, this is one of the ideas in my Pinterest folder. (See last post for link.) I think that I may need to fiddle with that scarf; it is not looking "artful."

~John's Hat~

Some of my scarves and coats out for quick grabbing. I can not imagine removing John's hat. That's where he kept it and it is comforting to see it there. Besides, when my son comes without a hat, I have one available.

Those grandsons of mine are growing like weeds. I can hardly believe that they will very soon be 11 and 10! The photos below are this school year's pictures. I need to replace the glass with the non-glare variety.

~This fragrance is delightful~

Love the scene on this old tin...very wintry!

Believe it or not, I'm still thinking of sleigh rides.

When looking at some photos I had taken for the first post this week, I saw so many things that were out of order and messy. One was my workspace beside the sofa. (Would you believe that I now have two work areas in the living room? I really should part with one. Why does a gal need two anyway? I'm taking over the world.) Anyway, a basket or tray helps corral my stuff. I need to pick up more of them next time I get back to Hobby Lobby. That's a little better, but you will be happy to know that the dangling flashlight has been removed from the lamp. Charming look...not!

I have the memorial poinsettia back. The pastor's wife called to say that it was still blooming and she wondered if I would like it. Yes! So, as long as it is doing well (it does have a variegated petal not to be confused with a poinsettia disease of any kind), I will keep it. I still have the one my sister gave me several years ago now because I am a sentimental old gal. That little coaster there, not looking so artful, is kept for one thing...its scent. It smells like John.

Thanks to those who suggested putting some red berries back. Yes, I like the trophy much better with them.

~painting by Nita Leger Casey~

Have I exhausted this post yet? I think so. Thank you for reading...

Monday, January 9, 2017

Holding Time and a Home Together

There is something about saying, 'We always do this,' which helps keep the years together... Tradition is a good gift intended to guard the best gifts.

~Edith Schaeffer
When I was a young bride way back in the Dark Ages, one of my friends read everything that she could get her hands on that Edith and her husband Frances Schaeffer wrote. They who founded L'Abri in 1955.

Apparently, it was all a little too deep for me then because I didn't pay much attention. Janet would go on and on and on and I'd hmmmm...hmmmm...hmmm. Fast forward 30 years, nearly a decade ago, and another friend of mine was chatting away on her blog about the concepts that Edith Schaeffer taught. I began to pay a little more attention. That beautiful yellow book on my book shelf on the left was a gift from Brenda. You can still find Brenda chatting about these precious things. In fact, her most recent post is about living life on purpose, which brings to mind another quote of Edith's: We foolish mortals sometimes live through years not realizing how short life is, and that TODAY is your life.
I know that many of you have already joined Brenda in the discussion. I would so love to interest three young women I love in these things.

~after the tree~
I want to chat a little about why I bother to decorate my home when I am often the only one who sees it for days at a time. (And I sincerely hope that I can translate this to meal preparation going forward as well.) Am I not still myself? Still in need of beauty? Comfort? Proper nutrition? Of course!

I never feel that my home looks as lovely as it does decorated for Christmas. What about your home? Do you think that way, too? I've been thinking about this a lot because I do not want to give up the beauty of my home just because I must pack Christmas decor away. This may mean keeping some lights going, some sparkle, some coziness, some unexpected delights that spark the senses.
A new Pinterest folder titled Winter Decor After Christmas was created for the task. You will find it here and then you can see the bloggers I have been copying. ☺
Let me share what I have been doing with some Edith quotes interspersed.

~before~

My great-great grandparents' anniversary trophy looked smashing with the red berries; it's looking subdued now. See it above in "after the tree."

It's still winter and I do decorate seasonally. (John used to say that it was because I had been a teacher. It may be. I surely hope that his last years here at this haven, which he built, were aesthetically pleasing for him.) I see that I forgot to pull those red berries from the books, but the fact of the matter is that there are lots of red berries out in the real world and they look so beautiful against the snow. This is where the twinkle of winter lights also comes in because the wreath above has some small battery operated lights on it and the birch candle holders that John made me do as well. I also kept out some trees from my Christmas village. I dragged in my childhood sled from the barn and put it to good use inside. Remember: this is what my real world looks like.
Speaking of real world...

New snow makes everything beautiful. The Christmas village has been put away. Needing some light, I placed my grandparents' wedding gift on display...the mail carrier on his route.

There needs to be a homemaker exercising some measure of skill, imagination, creativity, desire to fulfill needs and give pleasure to others in the family. How precious a thing is the human family. Is it not worth some sacrifice in time, energy, safety, discomfort, work? Does anything come forth without work?

Happy to copy a dear blogging buddy with this bit of sparkle on my dining room light plus key ornaments (thank you, Abby) and a Blessing sign. Now that I see this photo, I'll be removing the sign. This decorating of the light amuses me because I did not decorate it for Christmas.
The following series of pictures could be a discussion on cropping. I can't decide which I like best so am showing them all.

~wool blankets~

I am not terribly artful with color and pattern, but I enjoy trying. I do also enjoy the cozy factor.

If you have been afraid that your love of beautiful flowers and the flickering flame of the candle is somehow less spiritual than living in starkness and ugliness, remember that He who created you to be creative gave you the things with which to make beauty and the sensitivity to appreciate and respond to His creation.

So tell me, what else might I do to add winter charm? I'll allow all those below the Mason-Dixon line a pass because I realize that seasonal decor is different depending on location. But for those of you who live in the land of the North...what say you?

It seems to me that whether it is recognized or not, there is a terrific frustration which increases in intensity and harmfulness as time goes on, when people are always daydreaming of the kind of place in which they would like to live, yet never making the place where they do live into anything artistically satisfying to them. Always to dream of a cottage by a brook while never doing anything to the stuffy house in the city is to waste creativity in this very basic area, and to hinder future creativity by not allowing it to grow and develop through use.

Amen!

Friday, January 6, 2017

Epiphany 2017

Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas also known as Epiphany. The term "epiphany" excites me. When I taught a writing class at a local college all those years ago now, the term epiphany came up repeatedly in a literary sense and it was so thrilling to teach.

~2017 calendar~

I would say to my students...Epiphany is the moment when "the light goes on." Then I would add that there is no greater moment of epiphany than meeting God face to face as those shepherds and wise men of old did. There is nothing to prevent us from doing that daily. The Lord welcomes us to meet with Him. In fact, it is of utmost importance to our souls. All good writers understand the concept of epiphany.

Look closely at the logo on my new iPad (generous daughter strikes again) for a fun illustration of the light going on. I had to look at it twice to figure out what was going on.

~The new iPad is such a pretty color that I hated to cover it up with the new cover, yet the cover makes it possible for me to easily use it.~

~taken with the iPad camera~

Let us just say that I am fully enjoying this day, but I will also enjoy epiphany tomorrow and tomorrow and forever. There is no limit to God.
Many blessings to you... P.S. For more thoughts on Epiphany, please check out the featured post in my sidebar.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Since Last We Visited or 27 Pictures and a Video Later

Goodness gracious, I have so many photos and stories to share. I think that I'll just dump them all on you at once, sort of like that 27-inch snowstorm that we ~~enjoyed~~ endured last week between Christmas and New Year.

~Sam Clearing His Dad's Car~
Yes, we put'em to work young here. After a storm, it's all hands on deck.

And if a darling daughter calls offering assistance, one does not say, "No thanks, Dear, I've got this."

I mean even the plow got stuck in the driveway—twice!

And, while this truck was stuck here; another truck that I had dispatched was stuck at John's place. Nightmare!

So, yes, it was all quite exciting for about five days. No, the storm didn't last that long, but the clean-up did. In fact, still haven't cleared the front steps and that is very important for insurance purposes. I should probably interrupt this post and get myself out there. Nope. It'll have to wait.

The best thing about snow is that it is all very pretty for a while.

This is not my home. I am IN my home taking a photo of my view. I do love my neighbor's home...just so dearly New England.
Yes, it's all very pretty until...

the ice begins to build and then...

one has a mess of another sort on her hands. I had just checked on this situation the day before yesterday and had hoped that all would be well in spite of all that snow up there. John had told me that he had "fixed" it and that it would "never leak again." I know that he thought that was true, but things can go bad quickly as was the case this time. I spent most of the day yesterday taking care of the disaster in the upstairs bedroom. One of John's friends, also a contractor, came to shovel the roofs and the dripping has stopped for now. I'll spare you the details of this mess as I have other messes to share. ☺

~the roof gets cleared video~

So it's still Christmas here; although, I have been dismantling slowly...

starting with my lovely Christmas cards. I reread each one and took note of changes in addresses, etc.

Back on Christmas Day, Laurel (my daughter) opened a cupboard and I heard her exclaim, "I could

not handle that!" I think I saw her wave her hands around in a distinct circle.

What?! What in the world was she talking about?

Only three things fell on her feet. I don't think that she had much reason to complain.

If she thought that was bad, what would she think of what was behind this door?

Aside: I think I'll leave out my Christmas aprons for the winter. I hardly had the chance to even use them.

Okay, this was such a mess that I softened it for you. It only took two garbage bags to get rid of a lot of expired and no longer needed things. And I donated an entire bag of rags, too. I don't know how I'm going to live without the dried up caulk tubes, but I'll manage. I also gathered all the pet paraphernalia to give to my sister. Maybe, if she doesn't need it, she can throw it out for me. If someone would just come in here and throw stuff out for me, I could get organized. ☺

Looks like a giant domestic Tetris game to me. Though I can find things again, I may have to revisit this because, according to FlyLady: You can't organize clutter. I do not, however, consider this "clutter." These are all things that I need, though some things could find a new home in the garage or the basement. I consider cleaning these spaces a money-finding expedition. I found three or four boxes of nearly full Swiffer duster thingies, which I do like. (Yes, I did consolidate.) And I found an extra box of wet mop wipes. And that is not all.

When I cleaned the cupboard that had so offended Laurel, I found several boxes of cling wrap, multiple boxes of freezer bags, two packages of brown lunch bags, tons of coffee, and all manner of lunch baggies. Apparently, I ran out of plastic bags once and never wanted it to happen again. All that pasta I had down there went except for a couple of packages. One had expired in 2009!
Aside: If you need to scoot, feel free to split; this is getting long.

↑I know what this is soaking in the bucket. I found it in the closet in the dining room. One of you also knows what it is and how I got it. My memory is failing and so, while I am pretty sure that one of you sent it to me as a gift, which one eludes me. For anyone else, hang in there, I'll share what "it" is another time.

Now I know who sent me this Amaryllis. My cousin Jill did. She wondered how many others would mail me one after my confession that I had never had one on a recent Hodge Podge Wednesday. The sad thing about this plant is that it took a detour before arriving here "at the edge of the world" as Jill calls it. It got a little frostbit and I am just hoping that it will make it. By the way, this is my one and only Amaryllis. No need to change that, I hasten to add. ☺This one requires my full attention.

What else? I know that there is more. Oh yes! Last week, my son Adam and his family came out to visit my father while I was there visiting him for the day. They brought lunch and we had a fun couple of hours chatting. Then I thought to get some pictures of the men in the family.

~Adam Sam Jakob Dad~

My father is quite capable of being a character and a ham and has never taken a good photo in his life because he's too busy goofing off. I certainly hope that both he AND Jakob are goofing off in this one. Otherwise, I'm going to worry about both of them.