Domestic Tranquility

Did you have a busy weekend?

I did.

Lots to do on Saturday, more than I could possibly get done.  But then, isn't that always the way it is with moms?  Sometimes, the overwhelming amount to get done leads to, shall we say, a bit of grumpiness?  

(Grumpy?  Well, perhaps:  or, like Aunt Voula would say from My Big Fat Greek Wedding:  "...it's the hormonees...")

(Which sometimes then can lead to a pity party with only one in attendance.  Me.)

But being a constant photo-taker, sometimes it's good for making me stop to take notice of what is around me, in spite of all the busyness.  I'm learning that when I'm at my worst, to grab the camera.

(Looking through that lens helps me see so much more clearly, all the sweet blessings surrounding me, in my everyday, ordinary life.)

To take time to look through the lens makes me realize how fortunate I really am.

I might have lots of work to do, and what I do never stays done,  but at least I have a home--so many right now do not.

I might see jobs to do all around me, but I also have a lot of beauty to see.

(If I'll only look with my heart's eyes.)

Dogs are a lot of work and cause a lot of messiness and consternation at times, they always track dirt in, I haul it out--there are three of these big beauties here most of the time, and then our little one, too.  

They get hair all over the rugs, and I remove it,  they slobber, too, and scatter their food around the kitchen floor when they eat it, drip water everywhere from their jowls when they drink.

But...

But they truly are beautiful and loving creatures, willing to love us unconditionally--given to us to enjoy and be a friend to.

(Always waiting there, whenever you need a soft head to stroke; 

 and a big, floppy, velvety ear in which to whisper silly things.)

I can appreciate this, too:  one of the simplest, most timeless chores, that is really domestic tranquility:  and how much I like listening to the sheets flapping in the crisp spring breeze all afternoon long.

Taking pleasure in the knowing of how soft they'll be--and how they'll smell like pure sunshine--that night when I finally lay my head down on the pillow.

Yes, I am blessed, 

if I will only take more time 

to notice all the ways.

Sunshine, green grass, and blue skies overhead.

That is enough.

And yet, I have even more.

Have a great Tuesday.
A blessed one.

TAKE TIME TO NOTICE all the ways.

The Dog Days of ... Winter!

"Mommy, when will it be over?  When can I go out and chase birds, butterflies, and roll with joy and full abandon in the green, green, grass?

"You say 'Soon, soon!'   And I keep a watch, and things still seem the same.  All white.  All cold.  It all makes my paws hurt!"  

I don't see the rabbits, the squirrel, all those friends who are so happy when it's green and pretty outside.  Just birds and birds and more birds.  I'm tired of birds!  


JuneBug doesn't even chase them much anymore!"

"But if you say springtime will be here soon, I will wait.

How ever long that takes!"

Yes, we are in THOSE days....the "dog" days of winter:  when the animals look like they cannot stand another minute of it.  


You must admit, it gets a little old.  Especially for creatures who must go outside to use the "facilities".  Crunchy cold.  Numbing cold.  


The good part?  We have snow to go with it, unlike brown winters--give me the white ones that brighten up the world a whole bunch.





But.



Are you dreaming of a "spring break" with some warmth, sunshine, lapping waves to hypnotize you and the feel of those gentle salty breezes, too?  


(In the summer, Michigan is a great place to be, but NOW?  Not so much...)


So...if you could get away to somewhere warm that has all you crave this time of year,  WHERE would you like to go?  


(Our favorite beach getaway is Gulf Shores, Alabama.)  


Let me know your favorite sunny spot where you like to sit in the sand...

Happy Accidents

We had quite the storm yesterday in the late afternoon. We should have known, it was so muggy it was inevitable. It was a short, but powerful storm.

It knocked out our power, as well as that of one neighbor...I think we'll be low on the priority list for repairs, so we are still without power.

When he arrived home from work, hubby got out our generator that hadn't been used in years; we had it made because a couple years ago we hired an electrician to put a plug directly into our breaker box to use the generator to power up the whole house....and for our first time to be able to use it ....

The generator at first refused to start, then once started, refused to keep running.

So, it was a L-O-N-G night...this morning hubby went to work (he's a hardware man) and brought back another generator so I can use the basics...right now I'm waiting for the water heater to have enough time to warm some water for a shower.

...Back to happy accidents.

With no power, I got my camera out and played with it, for one thing I had some vintage items that needed to be posed and shot outdoors, so I got that done during the daylight. While my telephoto lens was still on the body of the camera, I used it--especially for this wonderful sunset the followed the storm.

While I was shooting (on my belly, on the wet grass), the dog ambled through.

And my happy accident is a lovely silhouette shot...I was excited!

There's always something good to find in life's little trials, right?

Redbone Royalty: Dan & Ann

Dan and Ann...

Remember Old Dan & Little Ann?
They are our oldest son's pups.
They were bred by our daughter--
the one and only litter belonging to
their Redbones Bryant and Dixie --
produced nine pups last October.


You saw them as wrinkly little pups.
Then as teeny toddlers.

And now....WOW!
Nine months old.

This is Dan. He's the quieter of the two, bigger, and extremely mellow.

Dan

They both posed (with some help) for their nine month pictures tonight...
in the evening light just before dusk
out in front of the soybean fields behind our house.

Ann

Little Ann can walk right underneath her brother, he towers over her.
He is redder, she, more blond than red.

Good girl, Ann!

What a catch, Dan!

Redbones are such a beautiful breed.

Red Dog, Red Dog, Red Dog....

The puppies are growing up...they will move to their new home this weekend! We've had them since Christmas and have become quite attached. They no longer look like puppies, our adult dog is on the right, and Dan is in the middle; Ann is the one on the left. (They are so beautiful if I do say so myself!)

Soon Dan and Ann will go in for their "surgery"...and I'm sure their Nana will help them recover and baby them an extra little bit, and check in on them several times a day.

Tonight was the final load (I think!) of stuff moved to Mark's house and he's now out on his own. We were down there tonight helping finishing up a few things, and I made sure he had his favorite cereal in the cupboard, milk in the fridge, the bed made in sheets and blankets that smelled like Downy...that's my part as a mom, to make everything like home as much as possible for the first night. I don't care how old they are when they move out, Mom just wants to make up the bed for them.

I hope when he pulls back the covers tonight he knows how much we love him and how proud we are of him.

One upsetting thing is that when we took the last load, there was a police cruiser in the driveway next door. I thought, "Oh dear! What's this all about?"

We soon found out.

The neighbor's home had been broken into and her flat screen television taken, nothing else. Whoever did it had kicked in the door in broad daylight!

(That was NOT a good feeling at all.)

The police think that someone had stopped to look at a boat for sale in their front yard, found no one home when they knocked, and just kicked in the door and took the television real fast and got out. They came over to ask if we'd seen anything. Not exactly the way you want to meet your new neighbor, she's a young mom who is newly divorced....thankfully she had her parents there to help get a new door up and stay with her awhile.

It's a "safe neighborhood" and the houses not very far apart: the boldness of those who would take what others have never ceases to astound, and I think with times only getting worse and worse, it will be even more prevalent, sadly.

This is the stuff that makes moms pray!

Three Little Kittens...

Three little kittens....

Had lost their mittens....

And couldn't tell where to find them...



So we dressed them in clothing instead!

My grand niece, McKenzie puts a pink frock on this kitty...


Did you enjoy "dressing up" the kittens when you were little?

It's STORY TIME: Frisker (Or the Dog Who Wanted a Home)

Today I'm sharing another vintage children's book from the Whitman Tell-a-Tale Books series copyrighted 1956; FRISKER by Mary Lauer Nowak. Other than the pages coming away from the cover and some wear on the spine, this book is in pretty good shape.

Little Lisa S. once owned this book. I'm acquainted with her --I actually know who Lisa is! The reason is her last (maiden) name is on the book. I've considered trying to contact her to see if she might want it back; I bought it at a garage sale that wasn't at her childhood house, so she may not have seen this in YEARS! Well, she took good care of it for it to make it through all of these years. I'm glad she saved it, because it's one of my favorites!

Now, stick with this story, it gets a little sad but it has the happiest of endings. I like the illustrations which were done by Leonard Shortall. (I wonder, was he short or tall?)

Either way, Leonard did a wonderful job on the drawings..they are some of the most crisp and colorful in my whole collection. When you think about it, what would a children's author be without an illustrator to make the story come alive?

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Now wasn't that ending worth the wait? Frisker looks so proud! So sweet....I want that little red doggie house!

A Bargain Pup

A Bargain Pup
By Garnett Ann Shultz


I bought a pup with wagging tail,
Two trusting eyes that never fail,
A bit of fluff--an outstretched paw,
Real loyalty, without flaw;
And though the price small would seem,
He came equipped with shining dreams.


I bought a pup, a tiny life,
Some love within a world of strife.
Devotion such as none I'd known,
He changed our house into a home;
Forever waiting for me there,
Affection that he longs to share.


He changes not though I may frown,
I know he'll never let me down.
He listens when I care to speak,
'Tis only love that he would seek.
He doesn't care for wealth or fame,
Delights to hear me call his name.


The price I paid was small indeed
For happiness to fill a need,
For understanding, warmth so true,
The greatest friend I ever knew,
A wagging tail--a trust complete,
My puppy--waiting at my feet.

Many a boyhood memory is made with pets...fond ones, all.
What's better on a wintry night than to be snuggled on the couch with a bunch of pups?
They keep you warm, and you keep them warm!
(And these puppies snore!)

Keep cozy, my friends!