~ Perching in My Soul ~

 Good morning, everyone!

Do you know Carole at Maynard Greenhouse?

She owns a wonderful garden center and gift shop in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. 

Yup....one of those special little shops out east.

The ones you can lose yourself in for an entire day.

Well, I was searching for the perfect little bird for my vintage birdcage that stands in the corner of my kitchen. 

I couldn't find one I liked anywhere. 

They were either too plain, too glittery, or too colorful.

When Carole mentioned that she had some hand carved wood ones in her shop, she emailed me a couple photos

and I knew that one of those darling little creatures had come and live with me.

So, she happily sent one out.

  

It arrived in the mail beautifully wrapped along with a sweet note on a vintage card.

And this little wisp of a bird,

so beautifully carved by someones hands

was laying inside.

The workmanship was stunning. 

To think that someone took hours scraping and chipping at a tender block of wood to create her was amazing to me.

Such patience....

That little bird has chosen her shelter.  

Above it are the stars and the deep heaven of the worlds.

Yet she is rocking herself to sleep without caring for tomorrow's lodging,

calmly clinging to her little twig,

and leaving God to think for her.

-Martin Luther

She is adorable sitting in her new home, 

in the corner of the kitchen,

warm and safe,

silently watching the world go by

without a care in the world.

If you're looking for a sweet little bird for your vintage birdcage, check with Carole. 

She has a few more who need homes! 

 

Hope is the thing with feathers

that perches in the soul

and sings the tune without the words

and never sleeps at all.

-Emily Dickenson

{ Hugs and hope }!

~ laurie

Linking with Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday!

AND BE SURE TO HOP OVER TO THE OLD PAINTED COTTAGE  for a chance to win a beautiful grain sack tote!!! 

~ Autumn Prose ~

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting
and autumn a mosaic of them all."
- Stanley Horowitz

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
- Albert Camus

 "I saw old Autumn in the misty morn
Stand, shadowless like silence, listening to silence."
- Thomas Hood

{ Autumn hugs }

~ laurie

(Linking to Faded Charm) for White Wednesday!)

~ Faucet Love....~

Well....by this time you probably know that I love these.

Which leads me to have to absolutely gush  

(no pun intended *wink*)

about this small change at Heaven's Walk.


I donated the faucet in my bathroom to my hubby for his bathroom.
His previous one was a disgusting gold that had seen better days.
This was a much needed improvement.

And I had THIS one installed in my bathroom.

It's something I've always wanted

but never really had the perfect sink in the perfect bathroom for it.

Now I do.

It looks like it belongs in a farmhouse, doesn't it?

It reminds me of the hand pump we have in the back yard.

It even sounds like a hand pump when the water's running.

Not that typical faucet-type stream of water.

But a rich, heavy, fall of water.

I love feeling that flood of water rush over my hands.

*Sigh*

I'm spending a little more time in the loo nowadays.

Listening to the faucet run.
Running my hands under the water.
Just watching the water falling into the sink.

Can you blame me?

{ Hugs }

~ laurie

(Linking to Between Naps on the Porch)

~ Reaping the Beauty ~

Good morning, everyone!

So far, this autumn in Michigan has been absolute perfection.

I can't begin to tell you how incredible the weather has been the past couple weeks!
Indian summer...

bright, clear, azure skies with nary a cloud.

Comfortable, 65-75 degree days.
(which = good hair days, you know)

Brilliant color on the trees.

Just beautiful!
 

I've been spending a lot of time outside doing autumnal chores;
putting away deck furniture (which is always a very sad job), cleaning the pond,
pruning perennials, 

and yes....blowing leaves.

Lots of leaves....ugh.
The battle as begun.

But at least it's been wonderful leaf-blowing weather.

But as I was mowing the other day, I found myself looking at Heaven's Walk through your eyes.

And this is what I saw...

Looking at the back of the house from the vegetable garden...

...and from the barn.

Milkweed pod ready to be picked for planting in the spring for my Monarchs.

 

One winter tenant at Heaven's Walk, who resides in a dilapidated old pear tree in the side yard, has been busy taking advantage of the beautiful weather, too...

Very busy.

I think he's been recently featured in "Better Squirrel Homes Today".

I couldn't decide if

1.  this was just a verrrry special hickory nut which was given a verrry special place so he could find it with his eyes closed in the dark;

2. his doorbell;

3. or maybe just his idea of chic, woodsy fall decor?

I do believe he's got a bright future ahead of him in decorating...

Last Sunday, our pastor spoke of reaping what you sow. 

You plant corn. You reap corn.

You plant beans.  You reap beans.

You sow love.  You reap love.

I think we can also sow beauty - and we can reap beauty.
All to the glory of God!

May you sow and reap a bountiful harvest of both love and beauty this week!

{ Hugs }

~ laurie

(If you love Lisa Leonard beautiful handmade jewelry, 
check out Southern Savvy Style
for a wonderful giveaway!)

~ French Pitchers and Seashells ~

Unbeknownst to me, I somehow suddenly have a collection.

I haven't the foggiest how this happened.

I've never really had a collection of any sort in my life.

Well....maybe wristwatches.

Oh, and purses. Yes, purses.

Ummmm.....do shoes count?

Ok - definitely seashells.

I do know that sometime during this summer

I fell in love with 

French body pitchers.
(Or "jugs" as they're called across the pond.)

(I think I have Maria at Dreamy Whites to thank for my new obsession love.) 

I wanted to know more about the history of these unique pitchers, but couldn't uncover a lot of information. I did learn that "French country farmhouse style decor evolved from the beautiful hamlets of the south of France to become one of the most widespread styles of interior design around the globe. It embodies the rustic nature and charm of old French farmhouses and country homes." 

French country style decor imitates the treasures you might find in a cottage in rural France and when you think of the French countryside, don't we all envision lavender-filled meadows, bicycling down a country road, and sparkling sunshine?

These pitchers remind me of those things.

A scratch or a ding in the enamel becomes part of the beautiful French history.

 

I find myself constantly on the prowl for another one to plunk a fistful of flowers in.

Or a pretty vintage linen teacloth.

On the other side of the French country table in our kitchen is part of my seashell collection in a vintage-looking wire lobster basket.

It's filled with gifts from the sea washed up along the shores of Sanibel Island, 
Caye Caulker (Belize), and Anna Maria Island -

a couple of large shells purchased at a unique little shell shop on Sanibel, 
and a gift of some beach treasures sent to me from my sweet friend, Debbi
at Love of the Sea  
(who is blessed...and I mean reeeeally blessed to sink her toes in the sand whenever she wants.)

In my favorite book, "Gift from the Sea", Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote:

"For it is only framed in space that beauty blooms...

...even small and casual things take on significance if they are washed in space."

She called her collection of seashells her "island eyes".

I like that.

French pitchers and seashells.

Somehow, they just belong together...

...washed in space.

{ Hugs }

~ laurie

(See you at Faded Charm for White Wednesday!)

~ Rainbows ~

"Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

~ Ezekiel 1:28

Every time I see a rainbow,
I see the colors of our Lord in all His creation... 

{ Hugs and blessings }

~ laurie

(Check out Between Naps on the Porch for more inspiration!)