Season of Singing!

There it was, right by the window, dancing in the wind. If my husband hadn't showed me, I wouldn't have believed it! When I beheld it, I had my own little hoedown. Such a delicate posy indeed tossing this way and that, but undeterred and steadfast it lifted its voice and proclaimed to my ears, "See! The winter is past; ..Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come..!"

Alas!, Spring has arrived at last!

Stitchin' up Wildflower Shoe Bag

Last week, I made this handy-dandy little shoe bag. It's like having your shoes in their pajamas. This is handy if you are traveling and you want to keep your good shoes from getting banged around in your suitcase without having to haul along the shoe box. It keeps them from getting scuffed up, too.

If you work outside the home, it could be useful to put them in a bag like this, and then put them on when you get to work. Just put them in your main tote bag and your ready to go.

the secret place

As if out of nowhere it's there. I hear its melody, a hymn to creation. I'm closer now and I sense it's presence. Its cascade lavishes down, washing over the stony bottom. I now see it full well and I abide in the secret place.

Dear Lord, you're there, always there. I hear you whispering as your desire echos over my soul. Your harmony is unmistakable. Your presence envelopes me washing through my stony heart. I am unworthy but your mercy is my covering and you draw me into the secret place, your secret place.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ~ Psalm 91:1



Nearing the cataract



Refreshingly beautiful



In its embrace ~ wonderful brother, me, faithful husband!

Like mother, like daughter

Before "Wildflowers in the Home" ends this week, I thought it fitting to mention something about my mother since so many of our mother's taught us how to make a house a home. My mother definitely has a gift for decorating and an eye for beauty among her other fine qualities.

Of note is her wedding china which have dainty wildflowers decorating the edge of the plate. I always thought her china was so beautiful and never dreamed that someday, without realizing it, I would choose a pattern very similar to hers with delicate wildflowers adorning the rim.

What a special gift she has passed on - an eye for beauty!



My mother's Noritake "Buckingham"



My Noritake "Silver Palace"

A German Apron

Well, it's complete. All done. I made a lovely little "German apron" and had fun changing things as I cut and sewed along. I'm not sure how German it looks all finished but that's okay. My friend at Wildflower Morning made me the pattern from an older German looking apron she found at a yard sale. When she spied the find, the only text on the tag was in German, so she found it quite fitting to call it a German apron. I like that, too.

My grandmother is German and I have many memories of her in the kitchen wearing an apron. I can see her now; flour everywhere letting me know making pies and what we called "schnitzels" was serious business. Oh, and yes, the smell of her sauerkraut wafting through the house still makes my mouth water.

So I think it's fitting to have made a German apron; a tie to my past. I will think of her each time I wear it and "das ist gute".








I think my husband tied a lovely bow, don't you?

Wild with Flowers

I'm delighting in Elizabeth Joy's 'Wildflowers in Winter', aren't you? It's fun to see all the creativity blooming!



This is a lovely teapot that my mom-in-law gave me as gift. I keep it in the windowsill in my kitchen because it is so cheery, just like her. Notice the twirling vine detail with a delicate blue flower for accent.



A lovely wedding gift turned fruit "basket". I just love the brush strokes of color!

Wordless Expressions

You'd think she was a budding kindergartner, but she's not. Nor is she one of my friend's children. She's one of my favored local artists. Each canvas explodes with color expressing perhaps what the mouth can not say; reminding me that life is not all black and white. Her limited abilities show through against the backdrop of her words but what I hear most is her heart.

My limited abilities show through, too. My tongue tastes words, muttering and stumbling they spill; coated black and white but what He hears most is my heart.

Lord, speak through the colored canvas of my heart!