Everything always works out

Everything always works out.
Not necessarily the way we imagine or desire
but some how the twists and turns of
life work out. 

Simply let go and let God.
Be vulnerable.
Trust.
Submit.
Allow the wave to pass
knowing you will survive.

Visiting with friends

Real life can be hard.

Seek heart every where you go.

Coming up for air requires distractions.
Sprinkles of joy.
Bright sunny days.
Cool rainy days.
Movies from the light fare genre.
Simply select sorbet over
cake. A sprinkling of loud music.

Top of my listening list:

Hello my name is Regret
-Matthew West



Recently watched:movies



Here Comes the Boom

Pitch Perfect


May you be richly blessed today my
beloved readers.

Craft Worry out of your Life

Worry does not empty tomorrow
of its sorrow, it empties
today of its strength.

                      - Corrie ten Boom

My sister,  Mericia, would advise: "If  your husband invites
you to go some where, even if the house is a mess, close
the front door and go."

I encourage you to do the same.

Summer Glorious Summer

No one has homework.  None. Nada.
This is the first summer
where not a lick of homework will be done.
Every day will be focused on getting a little exercise.

Dreaming and creating craft.
Catching a nap.
Eating watermelon. 
Thrifting.
BBQing.
Seeking the salt of the ocean.
Water dancing.
Stopping to smell and water the plans.
Visit all our favorite haunts.
Eating fresh organic fruit and vegetables.

Orange Ave Estate, Salvage and Garden

Upcycle

Loquat   Nispa

Me and You Vintage

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry
rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.

                                                   -Rabindranath Tagore


What a blessing to have lived this long.
To understand the sentiment behind the words.

To have loved and lost.  To have witnessed strength
and faith through suffering.  To be the custodian
of healthy charming children.  To acknowledge the
blessings of our daily life.
   

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls;
the most massive characters are seared with scars.
Khalil Gibran

I am convinced, to know the height of joy, we
must experience the depth of anguish.

Above all things strive for peace and comfort in your home.

Happy Daddy's Day

I cannot think of any need
in childhood as strong 
as the need for a 
father's protection.

-Sigmund Frued


From the age of 17, I had
a deep biological calling
to be a mother. 
Louder than any  rational
comprehensive thought.

Not so for Mr. Lee. 
He had a deep respect
for the institution of
marriage and parenthood
without the yearning of size 13
Doc Martin stumping steal toed
boots ringing in his heart and
brain.

When fatherhood came, it came
with me, and the ready made family
of  two boys.  The rest, as they say,
is history.

Happy Father's Day super DAD.

one LONG date

People are like stained glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealeed
only if there is light from within.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I first read Ms. Kubler-Ross'  book On Death and Dying
after my father's passing in 1989.
The book's message altered the path of
my life and
has colored my thinking ever since.

Today, Mr. Lee and I celebrate 16 years of dating.
Regardless of traveling in sunshine or shade,
we have shared a path.

We feel blessed each and every day.
Never part in anger.
And praise the Lord each and everyday.

It is what happens in a marriage of
equally yoked individuals.  

Happy Birthday No. 1

Mark was my little terrorist.
He couldn't sit still.
Full of adventure and curiosity.

Thankful for picking a short easy name.
Mark Christopher you stepped on my
last nerve sometimes.  We both sat
in time out.  

He broke the same leg twice before he was five.

When the fire engine pulled out of our neighborhood.
It had to be, Mark.

Volcanoes created behind his closed bedroom door.
Baking soda and vinegar, don't you know.

Secret burns on the furniture.
He'd flip the chairs to experiment.

We definitely paid up front.
Never a day of worry during your teen years.
Honest, dependable and faithful.

As a teen, you'd call if you were going
to be late.  You still ask for our advice when
you are not confident of the consequences.

We love you so much.


 

Markie Man.

Patchwork, Long Beach, California

Patchwork Shows

As a family, we love thrift stores, street food and art shows.
This love affair may have started with the Pumpkin Festival in my
hometown, Half Moon Bay.

We seek out these events and invite friends to join us.

Jodi was our get along guest.

Color.

Meringues, in Portuguese suspiros: to sigh. 
My oldest sister, Mericia,  was an amazing cook.
She would treat us with suspiros.  Street
festivals hold joyful memories.

The library store on wheels.  Come on, don't you love this.
My summers were spent in a small town library.

Fooooood truck.

Walking back to Mabel, our faithful mini-van,  along the shore.

From here, we headed to San Pedro for dinner.  The get along
gets around.....

Sunday Sunday La La La

When I stand before God at the end of my life, 
I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left 
and could say, "I used everything you gave me."

                                                -Erma Bombeck

The get along gang strives for this
everyday but never like when there's
no homework looming over one of us.

Tweet tweet

Linger over hot and iced tea

Granny Squares

Hello SUMMER:

Day Trips
Road Trips
Vintage Hunting
Gardening
Art
Crafts
Reading
Movies
Eating
Stitching
Double Dutch
Painting

Meet you here dear readers.

Last Weekend Day Tripping

Vintage Market, Rainbow, California

One of the vendors purchased this treasure
at the show.  It is a real silk Parisian market
umbrella.  This is what pops and calls my name.

Notice Miss Holly in the background with
the umbrella given to her by another vendor
last month.  It pays to be little and charming.

This cheeky sewing box came home with us.
The perfect green. 

Not only to we take treasures home. 
We go home with full creative bellies.

Collecting Vintage

It is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics when women of high
thoughts and accomplishments love to sew; especially
as they are never more at home with their own hearts while so
occupied.

Nathaniel Hawthorne