In Thanksgiving

Colossians 3:17
 
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, 
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

To our extended family and friends
our deepest gratitude for all you've done
to support our little family. 
 

Making Lists

I find that I have reached an age where
I should know what to do but I do not.

To distract myself, 
I watched Bridget Jones' Diary.
And thought of lovely things.

Collected seeds from this lavendar.

Plan to wrap thread on my word for 2015: seed.

Loving thoughts are little seeds...
let them blossom into deeds.

Dear Mother - Querida Mãe

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
                    Abraham Lincoln

Missing you dearly.
Happy Birthday, Mother.
How I wish we could plant
white pansies (amor perfeitos - perfect loves)
together today.

Pansies were among my mother's
favorite flowers, not the tiny johnny jump ups variety,
but the large faced old fashioned pansies
with their charming smiley faces.
I'll plant white pansies with purple faces
today to commemorate her 86th birthday.
Just me, in solitude, out in the garden
dirt where I can carry on a conversation. 

I didn't know it, but the old house at 424 Purisima
had everything I needed
to fill my heart for a lifetime.
While I searched and peace alluded me,
the peace my soul desired was already
within me.

A large garden with an apple and plum tree.
Shasta daisies (margaridas),
fuchsias, roses (rosas), camellias (japonicas),
geraniums (solteiras), and
hydrangeas (hortencias).
I learned their Portuguese common names first.

My mother would garden by the light of the moon while
she cared for father in late stage Alzheimer's.  Her garden
was among the most beautiful of cottage gardens.
The flowers so loved, they lifted their heads to listen
to the outpouring of my mother's heart, to kiss
the sunshine and the water so lovingly provided.

My parents in the backyard at 424 Purisima

My father and me in the parlor at 424 Purisima. Always smiling.  

Me, Father, sister Mericia, and Joe in the parlor

My parents with the Last Supper in the pink kitchen at 424 Purisima

Miss Marple

Over the Labor Day weekend,
I fell in love with Miss Marple, again.

Agatha Christie's
Miss Marple gets invited
to the most fabulous locations.
Mansions, beautiful hotels,
and fancy well to do locations.

Miss Marple has a nephew who
is an published author.
She knits, gardens, solves
crime, and wears granny chic.

Her cottage has a beautiful
front garden.  She sips
tea and has a fireplace in her
sitting room.

Miss Marple reads in bed.
She's my shero.

Boa Pascoa

The Queen of Simple Pleasures

It gives me chills to think how truly blessed I am.

Amazing simple parents.
Parents who illustrated courage and dignity.
Parents who allowed us pets to love and lose.  
Parents who encouraged us to study.
Who believed with hard work and education anything was possible.

A mother who taught me to pray and prayed everyday of her life.

Older siblings who cared and provided for us.
Sisters who taught me the joy of hand crafts.
A brother to teach me the love of cars.
Another brother to experience cultural pleasures.
A sibling close in age.  I was never alone.

Life long friends.  New friends sent directly from
the Lord at every difficult  path in my journey.

A husband to treat me as his Queen.
Healthy brilliant children to engage me
with their pureness of spirit.  

No matter what you see on the outside.
The light inside comes from the Lord.

Flowers do the heart good

Dr. H. Norman Wright says, "Many of the right things to do in life
are the most difficult things to do."

Flowers always lessen the sting.  Girlfriends and lovely husbands
know flowers do the heart good.  Thank you my lovelies.