4th of July

 The girls of the 4th.

Coming out to celebrate

 a very different Independence Day-

in a COVID19 Quarantine world.

 Somehow, it brings a sense of normalcy

 to see the usual old things set up around the house.

 Even if it is just us.

And Old Glory.

 Life, Liberty 

and the Pursuit of Happiness.

 Gigi and Papa's Place 

with a bit of red white and blue.

Some spangled stars

 on red and blue crates.

 The banners are up, the garland is strewn

 and the chaste tree is in full bloom.

A lovely blue tribute of giving thanks

 for the freedom that we are blessed 

to enjoy here in the United States.

May God Bless the USA!

St. Patrick's Day

Gathering a few vintage  postcards 

around the celebration of St. Patrick today.

Think many gatherings may include Guinness, 

soda bread and corn beef and cabbage.

I like remembering the story of St. Patrick himself

 and listening to In Christ Alone by Celtic Worship.

In Christ Alone

But, the green has also begin to herald 

the YELLOW that is popping up all over.

Also remembering my trip to Ireland. 

Though we didn't get to Black Rock Castle, 

we did love County Cork.

The stack of green books 
with the green bench.

  A nest and 

Ms. Green bunny. 

The gathering of the green.

So, on this day we hear the story 

of a faithful saint.

But, we are also reminded 

about our Heavenly Father 

who is the one and only forever faithful.

Heart to Heart

 This is the season of hearts.

Vintage gatherings and creations.

Here is a glimpse of the bits of devotion....

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:10 ESV

We love because he first loved us.

  1 John 4:19  (ESV)

New Year- Clean Spaces

 It started simple enough last weekend.

 Hubby was home, house was quiet.

"Can we tackle the pile of paper

 on your desk in the office?"

 That morphed to the next pile and the next stack.

And the next dusty shelf.

So edited the bookshelves.

Donating 78 books to the public library.

 Though we have still way too many books,

it helps to delete that many each time.

It ended up being 28 hours of people time efforts.

But, the space breathes 

and welcomes once again.

The closet got it too.

It now smiles back when I open it.

(well, I think I saw a smile)

Then I saw there was a Marie Kondo

 series on Netflix.

I watched all 8 as I was sorting things

 and ironing

 in the family room.

Kondoizing began in the rest of the house......

 So the kitchen was next. I only have 4 drawers

 in the whole room and they have to work hard.

I cringed every time I opened them over Christmas-

 as I threw something else in. 

I would never have posted a

  photo of my junk drawer before clean out.

 Some things are a bit challenging

 for me about her method-

(I don't believe that inanimate things Spark Joy).

I do believe that our living spaces

 create welcome or not, cause frustration or not,

 and can suck time as we hunt for things.

Her method for folding things is brilliant

 and I have been a proponent of standing things

 in drawers- like forever.

But, never thought about it for socks.

This isn't her method for storing socks, 

but hubby NEEDS his like this to find them.

But, she does fold them and stand them up- 

in Containers.

So- even though it bothers my symmetrical system

 when all the containers are not the same- 

this is so helpful.

 It keeps like things together for the long run.

Been doing that for awhile also.

I even had empty spaces in drawers.

So I will continue this as can- 

one drawer and closet at a time.

 This season of "cleaning out" goes rather well

 with the Epiphany New Year's blessing.

Bless this home.

Bless this space.

Lord, make the systems here

 in our homes meet our needs,

 so that we have more time to serve you.

Let us get rid of excess,

 so that we have more time for YOU.

 Amen.

Nesting

So I have a thing for nests.

For years now I have been gathering

 them when storms send gathered bundles

 from tree or bush to the ground.

The eggs here aren't real 

and I don't know what kind 

of birds have built them.

But, they are each an individual work of art.

This was used fall leaves 

woven right into the nest.

 I actually shared some 

with daughters this spring.

Time to share the lovely.

This one has a "mud" center.

A find late winter this year.

This is a purchased nest.

Like the greens added to it.

This "nest" was made by Rebecca Ersfeld.

A vintage crochet thread 

spool base with crocheted ruffle.

And a velvet ribbon handle.

Nests just seem to go 

with lilies of the valley.

A few years back we made this

 nest at Creative Haven.

Burlap wrapped peat pot,

and vintage book fringed

 to frame the nest of spaghnum moss.

Always a way to add a breath

 of spring blessings 

with a nested twig globe.

Sometimes a photo edited in the

Waterlogue App brings a new view-

as colors gently fuse.

Oh, yes,

I will walk the grounds 

after the next windy day.

And maybe........