I Want You to Celebrate

The greatest part of our
happiness depends on our dispositions,
not our circumstances.

                             Martha Washington

My hip replacement surgery is scheduled.
It's been nerve racking.
Still need an appointment with the
cardiologist.  Surgery won't happen
without his clearance. 
Relief mixed with anxiety and fear.

Today, a new feeling entered the horizon.
As part of a whole series of pre-operation 
appointments, I visited my dentist and
hygienist.  Both super wonderful.

My hygienist says, "Are you excited,
I want you to be excited?"

Me:  "I am scared and relieved."

Hygienist: "Understandable."

She continues: "My husband is an orthopedic surgicial
head nurse. It's sounds like a construction site in the OR."
 "I want you to celebrate that is may be a
fresh start to a new life for you."

Totally new spin.  Yes, I will celebrate.
I don't recall a time without pain.  It's
been years since I could walk stairs,
ride a bike, or dance like no one is watching.

I am going to celebrate this journey.

 

Old Glory, Riverside, CA

When our mother was in the hospital in 2009,
Uncle Joe and I would walk to Old Glory for
a reprieve.

It would be impossible for me to walk from
the hospital to Old Glory these 6 years later.
My body, but not my mind, has changed 
so much.  Still those memories are alive
and I still like to visit.

Something for everyone who adores
vintage.  

Mirror or frame hanging from
ribbon. 

Light filtered through glass. 

Garden art.

Inspiration at every turn.

Window shopping.

Scary Dutch people.

Paper Tales, San Diego

Favorite places to visit from
Pumpkin Cottage's list.

Paper Tales, San Diego is one of our
favorite places to visit.
It's well behaved kid friendly.

Visit for inspiration.  Visit for the
pink and white comfort
of granny's cottage.  

From Paper Tales Pinterest site.

Pondering Chronic Pain

 


In 7th grade I broke my middle finger playing
volleyball.  Surgery was necessary because I had
a couple of bone chips floating in there.


When it was time to remove the metal pin.
The male nurse, I mention this only because
a female nurse probably wouldn't have said
this to a 7th grader,
said, "Mind over matter,"
and yanked the pin sticking out with a pliers.
My girlfriend, Chrisy, watched with amazement
as the blood gush from the end of my finger.

To this day I use the concept of mind over matter
to cope with excruciating pain.

Visits to markets and thrift stores distract me
like no pain medicine can.

 Vintage Marketplace, Rainbow, Ca.

On Being the Slow One

Oh, everyone thinks Mr. Lee is so wonderful.
What you may not know is that he is quick witted
and mean spirited.

He says:  What day is it?
Sleepy headed me: Let's see Friday, was September 11th.
Today is the 13th, happy anniversary happy anniversary.
It's okay you've gotten a few times in the last 18 years.
He says: You are mean.
I say: I'm not mean.
He causally gets up and hands me my phone.
He had texted me hours ago:  Shhhhh.  Happy Anniversary.
He's mean.
I told him don't look at me or talk to me for at least 10 minutes.

Dispite all his flaws.  He is really handy and
cooks all kinds of tasty treats. He was good
to my mother, loves my family, and all the
kids.

I drag home all the handmade workshop
stuff I can find. And he, makes it better. 

 80s tired:

2015 Fabulous:

Yeah, I will keep him and try to remember
the 13th of each month before he does.

Happy 18 years and 4 months of dating
bliss, Mr. Lee. 

Crafty Ideas from Road Trips

From here. 

To Pumpkin Cottage

That's Jacob preparing the pipe.

Pipe is placed and ready for display.

Everyone pitches in.

Ta Da....

Pumpkin Cottage Makes

Pumpkin Cottage...the weather is cooling
down a little bit.  Just enough for Mr. Lee to
get on with projects and for me to rest my
hip.

A few years back, our friend, Cheri, gifted
this desk to us when her mom loved to assisted
living. We loved its lines and graceful legs.

Start of a revamp for Jacob's room.

Shiny black and white.

This is Rose, investigating the new object.  Mr. Lee says the
cats have to rub their bums on everything.  He is more of
a dog person but tolerates them for me.
Rose is really more like a dog.

Interesting, I must explore.

Yet this is it.

New vantage point for my bum.

Apparently, Jacob is going to have a homework partner.

See you soon. 

P.S. Mr. Lee grumbling, "She gave it her a** stamp
of approval."

Marrying Your Best Friend

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown
into flame by another human being. 

Each of us has cause to think with 

deep gratitude of those who rekindle
the light within us.

                                        Albert Schweitzer

This is one of my favorites.  Mr. Lee and I hand lettered
this quote on our Save the Date invitations for our wedding.

.

We highly recommend marriage to your best friend.

Share your bliss with  extended family and friends.

Seek shared experiences.

Collect memories and things you treasure.

Anniversary

There are two ways of spreading light; 
to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
 
  ~Edith Wharton

Mr. Lee and I recently celebrated our 
wedding anniversary.  It's such a special 
day for us.  

Perfectly placed as a gate way to our favorite
seasons:  the fall and winter. 

Time tick ticking away.

Holly took this picture of us nearly two years 
ago.  Pumpkins Pumpkins. See her little shadow.