From Us To You...

I hope you had a good Christmas. I loved having everyone home and happy!
Nice to have a break in regular routine and just be.
                                                 

                        a collage of memory made moments.....                                                                                 

             Family photos are a study, and require just the right amount of planning and spontaneity for the atmosphere...my daughter's fiance took this for us on Christmas eve.
Sharing it with you as I wish you a happy and healthy 2014...




                                   

Thank you for stopping by my little blog...much love and blessings...Lucy~


                                 

thank you for listening to the song....

                                          

Convoluted Christmas

a few reminiscings' of yesterdays ice storm here...

                                               

  That morning we woke up to darkness. Dark cold that seeps into your bones. The world outside was distorted and devastated. Broken and shattered, bowed down.

I stand here at the window looking at a traumatized, ice covered world outside. 
I am sad for the loss of our beautiful trees. For the shade and ambiance so ruthlessly destroyed. 

                                  hubby checking out the demise 
Then I remember they are just trees. We have a home, we have all we need.
But I still mourn a little. After all it is Christmas and this does not seem like a very appropriate  scene.
Then I ponder the alternative,  what actually could be more fitting then destruction?
When did the world need Christmas more than now? When did it ever need the Light of Christmas more than now?

                                  enshrouded evergreens

I trudge outside with my camera wanting to somehow capture the scene around me.
I know it's impossible to fully describe  the quietness of the land.
 The stark beauty in the devastation.
Here a reminder so strong how we need the Hope that Christmas brings.
The believing in the magnitude of something greater than our own understanding.

The new tree  I planted in the fall is bowed right down low.
Bowed over with bated breath, heavy, waiting and full; expecting a miracle.

                                          

Feeling thankful here tonight. After a busy day, happy to host some friends who were "in the dark still." Knowing there is still many waiting....

              the candle here in the middle of my table keeps on flickering.....


                                Merry Christmas!
                                    to you.....
                                  love, Lucy~

Twas The Week Before Christmas Everywhere

  a few pictures from around here...

               It's a winter wonderland out here...

                                                a menagerie of sorts...

Here is a cookie recipe for you...(homework happening also:)

              Sunshine Tear Drops (or Bird Seed  Cookies to some...)
1 cup sesame seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds (also I put in ground flax seeds  because they're healthy)
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup honey ( I used half molasses)
1 cup coconut or nuts
1/2 cup cocoa or carob powder
vanilla
Mix well. Roll in balls and roll in coconut. Let sit to chill and either eat, freeze or refrigerate.
                                            molasses cookies..

                     thumb print cookies with currant jam and peanut butter balls


our tree would not ever be featured on the cover of a magazine but it is full of sentiment,and many hand made decorations.
                   

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, may all the moments; ideal and not so perfect,
blend to bring you a Christmas that is full....full of joy...full of gratitude...full of peace.


                                            

please listen...

                                   

Reasonable Angst

There are two things that evoke a measure of anxiety that range in close proximity with one another. One is getting my hair colored (or highlighted in my case), the other is paint. 
Standing at the paint counter and sitting in that chair and realising there is no turning back. This is it baby.

Both require trust in the abilities of somebody else who I do not really know, and who really knows very little about me.

It's funny really because I generally have a pretty clear picture in my head of what I am after. Why is it then, or is it because of this, that I could regale you with at least a few instances of my complete and utter shock at how my hair or my room turned out.

Are we idealists our own worst enemies? Do we create our quandaries or do they create us?

On to painting my room last week. Finally after agonising over which colour to paint this large, rectangle of a rec room in our basement. 
Don't get me wrong I am glad for the space! But let's just say it has some rather weird  unique features. One cinder block, two mirrors inserted into them, and three a lot of colour happening with stencilling and fireplace plunked in the centre.

My usually creative painter side of me was feeling uninspired about a colour.
 I ended up asking someone who works in the field as she was conveniently here one day to pick up her children. She advised me on a colour that everyone loves and looks great everywhere.

         before... it was green... for almost twelve years! time for a change...

 Finally with a vision in front of me my paintbrush got pep. I rolled and brushed confidant that the stark white of this colour would somehow transform into a soothing hue.(it really was a beautiful colour on the sample, but for some reason on my wall it vanished:)
                            

After  a day's labour and verdicts from my family that weren't helping to boost my waning enthusiasm. I decided this shade was not working at all, figuring I had nothing to lose I took matters into my own hands and began dumping some brown and some turquoise into the can. Eventually I had a colour I felt I could live with and I tackled my project anew, which included scraping the paint off of the mirrors which I had covered up. ( I discovered I rather like the quirkiness  of them and the way they add sparkle.)

As I was doing all this painting I had a lot of time to think and ponder and I couldn't help but rejoice in the fact that unlike we humans who second guess ourselves and continually mess up our lives with the wrong colour. 
our God has a plan for us from the beginning. He created us and knows us better than we know ourselves and even though we don't always get the colour right,  His grace reaches us there and He is not offended at our admitting of our mistake.
When we acknowledge that His design of our lives is always right we can live, embracing the color around us.

He knows we are like that wall; which is likely to get another colour someday.

That continual work in progress, that continual striving of finding the right shade.
                                 after...a bluish gray I think...

 Some walls take longer and are a lot more work than others but when the paint brush is  put away, we can admire the way the colours compliment each other, and look forward to a potentially clean slate.
 We can move forward knowing that as long as we are here on this temporal abode; paint and hair colour are never permanent.

Fluttering Along Post Cards

the other day as I was meandering around the thrift store looking for treasures that could be useful, beautiful or both, I spied this little vintage tin filled with post cards.
They haven't been used and i can't seem to find a date anywhere but I am sure they must be OLD! either way I think they're quite neat...
I simply need to decide the BEST way to utilize them....

                                I am open to ideas and suggestions...
                                         here is the tin they are in...    

and all the designs...

a little did you know.. I heard this definition first last year..and found it interesting although I have to say I still don't like the idea of saying"Xmas versus Christmas"

I also found this picture..

I realize the scale isn't 'quite right' but I like the colours....

Well, I am off to finish a painting job and run errands and feed my chickens and well you get the idea:)

what have you been up to?

A Wreath In Time For You...

      This morning after a busy weekend,I sat down in a quiet house  and I made this wreath.....It was so easy,  and I am happy with the way it turned out....
                                                       

            here is what I did.... wrapped a wooden wreath in burlap, then cut the lengths for the bows.
                                                    yes, it's a bit messy.

                      then I simply tied them on....while watching this... (.coincidence I think not!:)

     
        here it is....I cut the green pom pom flowers from the shirt I was wearing to embellish it a little.....
                                                                bottom right..:)

             
                                       I hope you try it, it was good Monday therapy. 

              Then I added a few touches to the outdoors ...

                                                           come in...
                       
                                    I picked up this adorable paper mache owl at Target recently.....
                             

as I finished this post I looked outside and saw this reflection on the post so I had to share it with you...

May your  week be full of reflecting beauty and grace....

love, Lucy.

My Christmas Wish or Something Like It...

It is that time of year where inevitably the conversation turns to what do you want for Christmas? My kids are getting older and gone are the days it seems of buying them toys that come in packaging that requires undoing umpteen twist ties, or loads of Lego blocks...
as I sat here contemplating I decided to write a poem...
I don't call myself a poet but it was fun to write...Enjoy!

I wish I could be more forgiving and forget once in a while
When I am irked I wish I could offer a sweet smile.
I wish I would remember to give thanks a little more
So that grumbling and complaining would slink right out the door.

I wish my hands would remain open, never clenched or holding tight
To worthless things and foolish pride that blind the truth from sight.
I wish I had the wisdom that you get from looking back
Before I made  my choices of choosing the 'wrong' track.

I wish everyone could have a good supper every night
And a home with loving parents who try to teach them right.
I wish that conflict and indifference would not tear love apart
But commitment would be stronger and would mend a broken heart.

So as I wish these wishes, I say a prayer for you
That you have peace and happiness in all that you hold true.
May each twist and turn on the earthly road you roam
Bring you ever nearer your heavenly home.


                               

           
               My newest infatuation....battery candles on a timer...love ~~~Lucy. 


  

A Mother's Prayer

When I was sorting through my scraps last week, I came across this prayer I had saved.

It is so beautiful, so here on the cusp of a brand new week I want to share it with you.

Lord, help me to give my children the best-not of things, but of myself, cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine. Teach me to accept them for who they are, not just for what they do; to listen to what they say, if only so they'll listen to me;to encourage their goals, not mine. 

Let me give them a home where respect and  integrity are the cornerstones and there's enough happiness to raise the roof.

May I give them courage to be true to themselves; the independence to take care of them selves, and the faith to believe in You.

May I discipline them without demeaning them, demand good manners without forgetting my own, and let them know they have limitless love no matter what they do.

Let me feed them properly, clothe them adequately, and have enough to give them small allowances- not for the work they do but for the pleasure they bring. Let me moderate in all these things, so that the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving.

See that their responsibilities are real and not burdensome, that my expectations are high but not overwhelming, and that my praise is thoughtful and given when it is due.

Help me to teach them that excellence is work's real reward.

And when it comes - let me revel in each honour, how ever small, without once pretending that it's mine- my children are glories enough.

Above all, let me ground them so well in Your truth that I can let them go.

In Jesus name, Amen!

Small and Powerful

 

A thoughtful gesture is like that pool of sunshine on a drab November day.
 or a bird outside your window when hope seems far away....
 Isn't it true that gestures pack a punch when it comes to saying something with no words needed.

Take an open door for instance. I remember years back I was dropping by to visit a friend. She knew I was coming so as a welcoming gesture she had left the door ajar.
                     

 
This really made an impression on me, as it signified  so much more to the relationship than she  could know. This is something I have taken with me and I will often leave the door slightly open (weather providing of course) when I can. 
I especially like to do this when my kids are coming home from school. I hope it tells them; here you are always welcome. Come in, drop your baggage. You belong here, welcome home.
                                       
Other gestures that speak clearly is a simple smile. Not only is a smile relaxing  to the recipient, the benefactor is blessed.                                                                         

Listening with sincerity is another gesture I am aiming to claim. Too often it is easy to be thinking of what I would like to add instead of giving the speaker my undivided attention.
It really does make someone feel valued when we care enough to care about what they are telling us!

A touch is also such a meaningful way of blessing another soul. 
Simply a hand on an arm or shoulder with a word in passing can convey care and empathy.

The power in a gesture. Though small is ever so mighty! 
Go ahead and use whatever gesture you can to make a  positive difference to someone.
It may just change their world for the better.


                                                               

Beautiful Scraps

Last evening I was leafing through my scrap book. The one that is literally still scraps, not a book. Over the years I've cut out articles from the paper and special poems  I enjoyed and put them in here to glue eventually.
                                                                                 

                         

 As I read a few articles and recalled favourite newspaper columnists that have since stopped writing, my eyes fell on this obituary... 
I picked it up to read and realized this happened one year ago.
I talked about it here...                                                    

Remembering... remembering that's all I can do.
as if somehow I can bring her back 
here to this humble sod. 
I cradle bitter sweet memories,
Because now she belongs to God.L~M








I know this is a sad post. but I wanted to share because it got me thinking that life can feel alot like my scrap book ...sometimes I feel like all I have is scraps. Odds and ends and pieces, nothing to big or important. Just a motley array of this and that.
  In the end though when I am done here,  nothing will matter but how I lived my life and WHO I was living  for. I needed to be reminded of this once again.

                     please listen to this beautiful song talking about this...

Rippling Smooth

                                                     lake photos taken this summer

The waves have splashed  the rocks until they are  sanded smooth.

 Smooth like a glass lake face.

So perfectly smooth it's depths hidden from the casual observer.

I ponder what is beneath it's surface that is serene and exudes calm.

I come to experience and learn from smooth.
The gritty every day grind needs a reprieve and it is found in placid waters and rocky shores.

It is found in quiet beauty and  
and contemplation.
It is found where reflections and reality recede and we are still.
                    
                                                             

Now I make beds and smooth wrinkles from sheets.
I feel like in some  minuscule but profound way  I am making a difference.
 I pray for my children who sleep  here beneath the blankets I try to smooth daily, as I smooth these sheets and tuck in corners
I cover each one with my prayers,and I know they will be okay.

                                                                

                       May the rough things in life make them smooth, 
            May the bumpy roads lead them to a place where desire and destiny are one.
                     and
                 May their hearts know the Peace that passes all understanding.


wrote this last week, prompted by the http://writealm.com/texture
writing prompts.


yes, I am one of 'those mother's' who usually makes her kids beds. Not always, but I like too as I use this time  to pray for them.

My Garden Shed In Repose

             I did the final clean up of my yard and garden last week...
                                   

   

 inside my 'tool shed'...

Who knew there were so many nick knacks to put away.
I guess I don't add everything at once, but over time.
                                                                        

                     I wait until the bitter end to empty the garden though,
                           as if this somehow will extend the season.
                                                             

     what a mess...some day this could be a studio or pretty shed...some day!

                                                                 

 

                                                                             

 I look back for a minute before I close the door. I wonder what may or may not transpire by the time I open this door to begin rooting for tools,pots and paraphernalia  to reinspire. 


                                    

                    Now all this is tired in every sense of the word.
                                 except for what remains..
                           A winter's nap sounds like a great idea....

just in time too...
                          (photo taken last week.)there is a few days of 'nice weather'in the                                                                                                      forecast  before we're back to cold.