Quiet Seasons

 As I sit here with fingers on keys,

words seem to fail me....as they have been lately.

Instead of words and stories and creative projects that I normally share with you,
a huge void has taken up residence in my heart.

I've pushed this computer away time after time.

Time seems short.

The desire to write, sorely lacking.
My camera collects dust.

But I needed you to know that I am still here.

Still moving through life....though in a slight fog.

Still consumed with my parent's estate and paperwork....but making progress.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The bumps in the road are gradually smoothing out.

Comfort is found in quiet routine,
and old photographs reflecting a simple, content, happy life.

My parents and me on Port Sheldon beach at Lake Michigan where my grandparent's cottage once stood.

It's a bittersweet season.

A season of many firsts.

A season of extreme heartbreak;

a season of letting go;

a season of remembering and understanding;

a season of discovery and growing;

a season of trust;

a season of love.

My favorite watercolor painted by my father.

A reprieve is found in my garden.

Moments spent with the sun pouring warmth onto my back.

Green beans fall into my bucket.

A pail of cabbage, squash, and broccoli wait at the garden gate.

My thoughts wander to the months ahead.

Autumn.
Winter.

Spring.

More seasons of firsts....of change.

I let my thoughts linger and I hold them close.

I've watched two hatches of bluebirds hunger in their nest, grow, and fly away.

I've heard tiny wren babies in the red bed tree out front chirp as their momma brings them food.

They too will eventually spread their wings and fly away.

 I stood in awe at the strong determination of a mother turtle laying her eggs by the arbor in my north garden.

I've watched wobbly legged little turkeys follow their parents through the yard,

pecking at the fallen birdseed by the old pear tree.

A family of rabbits have taken refuge in my garden 

and scamper through the roses each evening.

Ears standing tall.

Noses quivering.

Farm tractors rumble by pulling trailers of freshly cut hay.

People glide by on their bicycles.

The mail truck putts down the road.
Pickles are canned and beans frozen.

Life quietly goes on with slippered feet.

I lift my face to the starry heavens each night and wonder what my parents are doing -
how they are doing...

wishing they could tell me what it was like up there.

I thank God for the faithful life they had lived here on earth,

and for raising me up the same way. 

I am blessed by the family who lived before me;
traveling from the Netherlands, France, and Scotland...

My mother's parents ~ and the car my grandfather was killed in.

My dad and his brother traveling out west with my grandparents.

and the family I still have around me.

To everything there is a season.

I will learn to live the seasons with a tangible void now.

I will learn to carry it, embrace it, tuck it away and go on.

I will discover more,

understand more, 

trust more,

and love more...

in these quiet, blessed seasons of life before me.

~  Eucharisteo  ~

 Linking to the linky parties at the lower right of my sidebar.

 

 

A Little Vintage Goodness....and The Winners!

I scored a little treasure last week

as I helped my friend open her antique shop for the season.

I happened to spot this little guy sitting in the corner

on top of a huge, old safe

next to a much larger version of himself.


{I almost fell flat on my face

as I tripped over a rug in my sprint to pick him up.}

So, of course...

he had to come home with me.


A girl can never have too many cute little fans, you know.
 {*wink}


I will admit, though...

 it's a little dangerous for me to be "helping out" in G 's sweet shop,

Doster Emporium.

My radar cranks up a couple hundred notches the second I walk through those old doors ~

and I always walk back out of them at the end of the day

with some treasure clutched in my sweaty little hands.

It never fails.

(sigh)

What's a junking gal to do....?

I've also been doing a little floofing around the house

since we've been having

one rainy day after another...

after another....

after another.


I've seriously considered building an ark.


So, to pass the time between the rain showers ~

(after spending the necessary 45 minutes every day on my new elliptical trainer
and burning 500 calories every morning....woo hoo!)

Sorry.....I digress.



So, to pass the time
(because I reeeally wanted to be outside in the garden)~

I floof inside.

I took one of my favorite Sanibel seashells carried home with me this year

and nestled it next to a sweet little nest

among some white tulips

on top of a vintage grain sack

in a old wire basket.


I adore the rough, white texture of this old shell.

In fact, I prefer this type to the perfect, shiny ones.

I did some rearranging of the vignette on the top of the bookcase in my studio

(I'm calling it my studio now, instead of office.  

It's just a little more....ummmm....blog-appropriate....? hehe!) 

showing my

strange new love of string and twine....

(added a little texture with this photo)

Grassin twine can and twine ball with scissors:  LaurieAnna's Vintage Home; Glass canisters: Farmhouse Wares; Vintage clothespins: a gift from Amy at All Things Home

A girl can't have too many twine balls, either....
can she?


The kitchen buffet table now sports a simple wire egg basket

spray painted with Krylon's 'Rubbed Bronze'

and a sprig of springtime lilacs tossed in for good measure.

Egg basket:  Hobby Lobby; Picture frames: flea market

There's just something about the contrast of the dark bronze with

soft white that I love.


There are some sweet, red strawberries tumbled into an old ironstone bowl

sitting on the kitchen shelf.

Strawberries: Faded Plains; Vintage ironstone: Goodwill

 Vintage beaded goodness

that look so real

you can almost smell them.


(Fooled you, didn't I?)

Ok.

I won't keep you waiting any longer.

I know you want to know who won!

First, let me thank ALL of you

who entered my first giveaway!

Your sweet comments left me with a 

smile on my face

and a song in my heart!

♥

It was so much fun

that you can be sure I'll be doing more of them in the future!




The winner of the Beach Blue Giveaway is

Victoria from Slightly Shabby

and

the winner of the Shabby Pink Giveaway is

Susan from Writing Straight from the Heart!

Congratulations, girls!
 

I'll drop you an email!

{ hugs }

{Winners were randomly drawn by my hubby}

{I'll be joining with the rockin' linky parties located on my sidebar!
Just click on the buttons and they'll take you there for all the fun!}