Pumpkin Cottage

Pumpkin Cottage
sit and visit a spell

Sunday, September 30, 2012

No Anxiety Sunday

























aghhh.  The pain we put ourselves through.
Sundays used to fill my body with knots.
Unhappy butterflies.
No more.  I look forward to a job.

Nothing pleases me more than a cup of coffee/tea,
an old movie, embroidery with lots of color with
kid laughter in the background.

Searching for treasure pleases me, too.

The back of a cotton ball and q-tip holder.



























The front.  Vintage colors.  I am not a fan of
the goose or ducks (unless they are real) but
I adore the vintage colors.

I crawled under a table to get this picture.
Thank goodness for Mr. Candycane and his
assistance to get me up.

























Golden delicious apple.


























Who stole the cookie jar?  Who me?  Couldn't be.
Joe stole the cookie from the cookie jar.
Do you recall that little classroom favorite?

My photos are a bit shaky from walking up so
many stairs.  















































Chalkware squirrel. 




























I like the idea of collecting items with
cross stitch or embroidery patterns.



























Paint with crewel work.  See the cottage and the swirls outlined
in black.  LOVE it.  

















Happy Sunday.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Estranged


For nearly eight years, I have grieved for a son who chooses not to see me.
I haven't seen my No. 2 son, heard his voice or even know what he looks like.
We became estranged after a very ugly custody battle, I commenced at his request. 
He was 14 and had requested to come live primarily with me, his stepfather, older brother, 
and baby brother.  His father and I had joint legal and physical custody with No. 2  living primarily with his father. No. 2 son had decided it was time to transition before starting high school. 




















How had this horrible situation come to pass?  It is simply a terribly flawed legal, not justice, system. 
A manipulative selfish father with money on his side.  My inability to argue for reasonableness or fairness. In custody battles there are 3 types of fathers: the father that sacrifices everything for the wellbeing of their children, the father that gives begrudgingly,  and the father that puts property above all else. Mothers are guilty of heinous acts, too.

I fought with dignity and did what I thought was best and relinquished my children to their father initially.  At the time, it seemed like the lesser of two evils.  Less damage to the boys.  After just one year, at the age of  14, No. 1 came to live with us.  No. 2 son was told, by this father, that he, too, could join us at the age of 14. That promise was broken.  No. 2 was welcome anytime but his desire to live with us was not granted.  

No. 2 son witnessed the punishment of No. 1.  Recall the old saying, "If you can't be good you will be a terrible example." No. 1 was cutoff from monetary things for a while.  No. 2 was showered with things continuously. No. 2 was told he was his father's favorite.  What parent says that?

Estranged, (of a person) No longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated, what a hurtful word. 
I pray every morning for the Lord to soften my son's heart.  Now, I will pray doubly for his safety as he enters the Army.  His life long aspiration.  My mother used to say that no one other than another mother understands our hearts.  We love them long before they are born.  Be plant a brave face in their suffering.  Our hearts live outside our bodies. 

I attended my son's high school graduation, uninvited, but I was there to hear his precious name called.  The photos his father promised never arrived. When our divorce became final, all those years ago, my children shared what their father said.  He told them I had given up  and simply walked away from our children and community property.  Not true, I never gave up, I got on my knees and prayed.  I did not and will not compromise for things.  For like my mother, continuously reminded me, I have a soul to give God. My children couldn't be cut into two equal pieces. They were suffering, they didn't want their dogs to be put down, as their father threatened, and they didn't want to lose the only home they had known.   We kept the dogs until their passing, one at 16 and the other at  17.  Their father continues to live in our former home.  All I wanted was for my children to feel secure.




















Precious Lord
All knowing and compassionate
In your infinite wisdom
I ask that you soften the heart of my precious son
That you keep him safe, Lord
That you surround him in Your light

Help him to serve our great land in honor
Guide him to do Your will, my beloved Lord
Make my mother's heart strong for Your will

Lord, protect all the men and women in service
Provide peace and resolve to their families and loved ones
God bless America

Amen





Friday, September 28, 2012

Happy Friday


















My mother used to hang wash on the clothesline.
It always smelled to fresh and felt crisp.
My favorites were the towels and sheets.

Today, is my first day of unemployment.
I start a new job adventure on Wednesday. 
A few glorious days to prepare.
Clean my disheveled home, work on homework,
read, watch an old movie, and craft. 
Possibility all at the same time.


































































































Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Love in the Morning

Love me, love me, baby.

Our monogram is LVE.
Seriously, who would question such a destiny?

For years we had the O (of the clock) and V.

Just this past weekend I found the L.
The E was set aside from the Renegade Fair in Los Angeles.























This little reminder hangs in our bedroom.

The bedroom where we all gather on weekend
mornings, on school day mornings, and
in the evenings after baths. 

Make it a great day no matter where you
start your days.


Monday, September 24, 2012

First Stop on Saturday

Escondido was blazing hot on Saturday.


















On the way.























































Look for Holly, Mr. Candycane, and me. 






















We attend craft fairs to be with our people, be inspired
and encouraged.

To release the artist from within you must encourage
a welcoming dwelling inside and outside.



Saturday, September 22, 2012

Day Trip

No homework.  None.  Nada.

Mr. Lee is sleeping.  I am planning our day.

For those of you who don't live in California. 
California is a big state. 

I am thinking of a BIG day with a  day trip down
to Escondido, up to Long Beach and inland back to Riverside.


 


 

 Are you old enough to remember Johnny Carson?
He used to say this joke: You take the 91, to the 55 to 22 wrap around
to the 405.  It's just like that in sunny Southern California.

We are going to take the 215, to the 15 and then 5 North to Long Beach.
Tomorrow we rest.


It is crazy mileage but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

First, stop Queen Bee Market....sounds right up my alley.

Aaron Brothers summer roadtrip to visit Traci Bautista.

Home to Pumpkin Cottage.





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YAHOO....

Friday, September 21, 2012

Dignity



The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.  
                                                                                  
                                                                                                 Martin Luther King Jr.

























Thursday, September 20, 2012

Counting Down

Only 5 more working days left...yes,
I have landed a new job and a new adventure.






















 


Divine intervention.



























In my joy there is a sad thing.
The hardest thing is leaving those I love behind.
I have been blessed to have been sheltered from 
many a tremendous storm.
Ready, set, and here I go.




Did you make chains like this when you were little?
We used to use Juicy fruit and Double Mint wrappers.
And the zebra stripe gum.  What was that called?




















Tonight there is no homework beckoning.
Nothing I should be reading just moments of peace.


Friday, September 14, 2012

The movie Hope Springs

Sigh.

This movie was do difficult for me to watch.
I recognized that marriage and it was not pleasant visiting.
If you are living in a marriage or relationship that doesn't make your 
soul sing viewing this movie may help.  Drag your man.
It is a chick flick for men who want a better marriage, too.

This week I discovered Dennis Swanberg on Focus on the Family.
Sometimes Focus is too much.  Too far to the right, homophobic, too 1950s,
but sometimes it quenches my desire for something simpler.
Something sweet like southern iced tea.

I love Dennis' spin on marriage and his southern drawl.
The fashion and hair in the videos is so 80s...big hair for women
and all kinds of pieces on the men.

Random thoughts not about marriage.


  

















Years ago a bought the moss rose pattern above in teacups. 
Later, Joe, gave me similar saucers.  Still love them.



























During our recent visit to Half Moon Bay, my friend
snapped this photo.  It's the apartment building that
has occupied 424 Purisima for years.




























This photo is a bit wobbly.  The cuteness probably
made me nervous.

Thermos heaven.


Thursday, September 13, 2012

A whole DATE day

Feeling abundant is primarily about accepting your circumstances with gratitude.

Last Saturday, Lee and I had an all day date through the early hours of dawn.
We were up at 4:30 a.m. (the kids always know when it is Saturday)
and got back in around 1:30 a.m.

The Vintage Marketplace.





































I wanted this rack..next time maybe.





























































The Urban Barn.

This sink stole my heart.



























































A stroll through Ikea.










































A concert at Observatory.....X.



























































A perfect day with my sweetheart.