National Day of?

Did you know that there is a calendar with National Day of’s for every day of the year?

I think it’s fun to check every once in a while, to see what people are celebrating. Today is National Sewing Machine day. I think I’ll go sew a quilt top after I weed my garden of course. It’s also National Weed your Garden Day.

Today is also my sister’s birthday. Life would not have been as much fun or meaningful without her.

We have shared many experiences together—like the time we were riding our bikes down town and my tire popped. I had filled it too full. Or the time we were roller skating down the hill and my skate wheel fell off! Or the time we were sledding on the same sled. I was steering and ran her into the guardrail on the edge of the street. I think I’m a klutz. By the way it’s also National Klutz in the Kitchen Day. I’m staying out.

I love my little sister and wish we could see each other more often. Technology improvements in our lifetime has made communication opportunities easier, but it’s more fun to be with her than texting.  We also have “sisters” in our communities, neighborhoods, and churches that we can love and share memories with. I’ve met the new neighbors who are building their house next door to mine. They are fun and brought along another neighbor down the street to meet. We felt an instant closeness, just like sisters. Reach out this week and find a “sister of the heart”, and spend some time with them. It’s a beautiful summer day.

Tomorrow, June 14,is National Pop Goes the Weasel Day. How are you going to celebrate?

Planted

I was talking to my daughter Tuesday, looking for a little inspiration for you. She laughed and said, “Here is my poem for today!” She has a book, A Poem A Day

'Time' by Ursula Bethell

‘Established’ is a good word, much used in garden books,

‘The plant, when established’ . . .

Oh, become established quickly, quickly, garden

For I am fugitive, I am very fugitive – – –

Those that come after me will gather these roses,

And watch, as I do now, the white wisteria

Burst, in the sunshine, from its pale green sheath.

Planned. Planted. Established. Then neglected,

Till at last the loiterer by the gate will wonder

At the old, old cottage, the old wooden cottage,

And say ‘One might build here, the view is glorious;

This must have been a pretty garden once.’

From a Garden in the Antipodes (Sidgwick & Jackson, 1929)

This reminded me so much of my mother. My mother was an artist, and a gardener. Every home she lived in was improved by her living and growing there. She taught us all the importance of growing a garden, even if only one tomato plant out on the balcony. “Surround yourself in your own ‘Garden of Eden’”

I remember one year, standing on my3rd floor terrace in Washington DC, surrounded by seventy pots filled with flowers and vegetables. I shouted out to the city, “I’m doing this for you world! I’m providing oxygen for a city block!”

One year for Christmas my parents gave each of their children a cement statue of a book with a garden quote on it. Mine said,

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”

This week we have been planting roses, tomatoes, petunias and geranium in our terrace pots. The yard is filled with fruit trees

Isn’t this just the way our lives are lived? We hope and dream. We plan for those dreams and work to make them grow. But sometimes what we establish, what we become,  is most appreciated by those who come after us. Like the Renaissance artists and Impressionists, we often aren’t valued in our own time as our work is in the future. But we work and plan, and hope for those generations who come after. Happy Mother’s day!

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Memories

I miss Papa

I miss the rides through the countryside

On our bicycles

Visiting cousins

His and mine

Remember the road with the turnstile?

I almost didn’t make it through.

The old man’s agility always surprised me.

Memories!

Every stormy day

I miss Papa

JOY

Last fall our Relief Society President encouraged us to do a work of art depicting the Savior and something about his life, how we felt about him, a story, whatever came to our minds. Specifically, she looked at me and suggested a quilt. I had seen a technique where you quilt first then paint. I thought I would try it. I started with the word JOY. Having the Savior in my life brings me joy. I asked my sister to draw a picture of Christ and a lamb. She had a photo of her grandson holding a baby goat with a native American friend of hers standing in the background.

In her drawing, she changed the goat to a lamb, and the man into the Savior. I transferred the drawing onto fabric under the word joy, quilted the outlines, and went crazy quilting random shapes and lines. For months, I painted the fabric with Inktense crayons and Aloe Vera Gel as I prepared for surgery and recovery. The painting of the Savior was part of my daily life. Late in March the painting/quilt was returned to me, but was left in the back seat of the car overnight. Monday. we went to breakfast. For some unexplained reason, as we were parking the car at the restaurant, foot on the brake, going very slowly, edging to the curb…. The car lurched forward into a newspaper kiosk and broke a plate glass window. What Happened? Thankfully no one was hurt. I glanced behind me and saw the quilt of the Savior, and thought, “I’m glad we had Christ in the back seat with us.”

     There are many times in our lives when things happen that we didn’t plan, or prepare for. It would be nice if we had Christ in our back seat ready to support, encourage, and bless us. How can we do that? How can we feel that Christ is there for us? Does He even know who we are?

How can we get to know Him?  There is prayer—talk to Him. There are scriptures—learn about Him. There is Service—follow His teachings.

Christ loves you. He wants you to know Him. He wants you to feel JOY!

The Pineapple

The pineapple

Hid In the corner,

Basking quietly,

Forgotten—

In the winter sun.  

I would enjoy her fruit

But I missed her bloom,

The joy of her effort.

 I have friends like that.

I need to be more nourishing.

I,

Like they-

Blossom in my own dark corner.

The lot behind us has been an empty lot since we bought our home. I have yearned for neighbors, dreaded the thought of how they would change our lives. Would they build a huge house? Would a tall unfriendly fence block our view of the Bosque? Or raise roosters, or, shudder, pigs? Would they ask what kind of a neighborhood are we?

Last month the lot sold and has been cleared. It looks huge and bare compared to ours,

Crowded with apple trees.

Gone are the tall weeds and most of the trees. Where are they going to build their house?

What style? What ‘s the landscaping going to look like? Are we going to be the sore thumb in the neighborhood? I look out of my studio window in fear and trepidation, hope and wonder.

I haven’t met them yet though my husband has. He is such a fount of information. They are retired. They are from California, They seem friendly. What else do we need to know?

Thinking about it today I wondered, how would I characterize each of the ten families in the immediate area?  Most are loving and helpful. A couple would gladly help anyone in need. Two are kind of ornery, if everyone doesn’t agree with their ideas. One can get belligerent. And one hides in the shadow. (Me) I’ve decided to set up shop later this spring, on my patio to work and watch the progress. Maybe one of the owners will happen by and sit for a visit. Maybe I can give help, or solace.

All About Friendship

Anais Nin put it beautifully when she said, "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." Though some natural loners are happy without them, most of us depend greatly on the company of true friends. As with any relationship, friendships bring support and joy and occasionally strife. 

We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone. Orson Welles

We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone. Orson Welles
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/friendship

We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone. Orson Welles
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/friendship

The Secret message

The secret

A lovely surprise

In a gift of wishes

A poem in the making

The prayers that you’ve offered

A hope for healing

From sisters of my heart

Thanks for your love

The care that you’ve brought me

The smiles that you send me

The challenges offered

I can rest

Perhaps to sleep

Knowing God

And you

Are in charge.

Making A Masterpiece

You are a work of art

A sketch in Father’s plan

With color added by earth's trials

A masterpiece began.

The contrast using darks and lights

A vibrant picture poses

So, if you’re day feels difficult

Wake up and paint the roses

We are having a fun activity at Relief Society next month. I hope you will join us. We are going to learn to paint! “Oh,” you may say. “I’m not talented enough to do that. I can’t paint!” Well, forty years ago I couldn’t either. I’m still not very good, but I really want to try.

Oh Oh! See I just did that thing again. I compared my talent or lack of to someone else’s. I’m not a Rubens or a DaVinci, or even  a Matisse.

I have tried Miro and  Kandinsky  styles which was just fun.

Joy D. Jones wrote in Value Beyond Measure November Ensign Magazine,

“God is your Father. He loves you. He and your Mother in Heaven value you beyond any measure….You are unique. One of a kind

--Spencer W. Kimball

Let there be no question in your mind about your value as an individual. The whole intent of the gospel planis to provide an opportunity for each of you to reach your fullest potential. Brigham Young said, “the least, the most inferior spirit upon the earth … is worth worlds. No matter what, we always have worth in the eyes of our Heavenly father

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. We can stop comparing our worst to someone else’s best. “Comparison is the thief of joy.

When we have virtuous thoughts, He will bless us with confidence, even the confidence to know who we really are. There’s never been a more crucial time to heed His words. “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, “He said. “Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and…the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion.

As the Savior lifts us to higher ground, we can see more clearly not only who we are but also that we are closer to Him than we ever imagined.”

Tomorrow when you wake up, Look in the mirror, smile and say, I have value. God loves me. Then find someone to pass  on a little joy . Remember, you are making a masterpiece—you.