July Fourth Celebration

Happy
 Fourth of July

Weekend

My birthday is July 6th.

When I was little, my mother would promise that we would have 

FIREWORKS

for my birthday!

I truly thought those fireworks were in my honor!

I don't know how many years she got away with that . . . 

OK, so I was a little naive

and truly,

did I care???

There were millions of people in the park, and they were all celebrating 

ME

I was thrilled and delighted!

The fireworks were so big and bright and beautiful

and I was so happy!

We'd take a blanket and lie back and stare up at the sky . . . 

We packed a picnic basket of treats

and there were Popsicles

and lemonade
and peanuts in the shells

and patriotic music

life was very, very good!

July 4th was the "kickoff" to my birthday . . .
the before party
party!

What a way to enjoy being a kid!

Happy Fourth!

Easter Day

Church this morning,

 with two of my grandchildren along . . .

on the way we listened to sacred classical music.

Fletch, (5 years old), commented that he knew this music -

"Classical baby!"

I participate in our bus ministry for so many older folks who do not drive anymore . . . 

what a blessing to be able to assist them in coming to church!

My little ones rode along . . . and they so appreciated

 the attention of the marvelous men and women

who were riding beside them!

The generational relationships are vital to the understanding of life.

Followed by our pilgrimage up into the mountains

 for a wonderful Easter dinner with family.

My daughter is a terrific cook!

Snow, sleet and rain . . . but comfy and happy inside by the fireplace.

Lots of great food . . . too full . . . and oh so content . . . 

Capped off with that incredible coffee and pie.

It's good to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

I am thankful for the love that surrounds me.

Putting Away Christmas

January 6th was my grandmother's birthday. It has traditionally been my day for packing away the Christmas ornaments, cleaning up the pine needles and redecorating with a fresh winter theme.

I always remind myself during this process that 'tho Christmas is officially over, I want to keep it alive in my heart all through the coming year. That means kindness, giving of myself, reaching out to the less fortunate, and celebrating the birth of Christ, no matter what month it may be.

With Christmas over and the lovely ornaments and decor being packed away, I will miss the festive aura I was enjoying. I decided to keep some of that cheery atmosphere a bit longer by reinventing my displays throughout the house. I adore candlelight and greenery against silver, so I'm continuing to use it in every room.

I will keep my mercury glass votives and silver trays and introduce a spring green with a few fresh plants and potted herbs. Friends tell me that they keep their natural pine wreaths on their front doors for months, and mother birds build nests in them.

I have cleaned out the pantry, (again), and have washed some wonderful antique European canning jars, and am using them on my counter for coffee and lovely raw sugar. I have a glass spooner filled with antique silver spoons . . . . so inviting in the morning when I prepare breakfast.

There is always a bright side to a frigid winter's day . . . . much can be accomplished in the house if you're lucky enough to be able to stay at home and putter.

Running a business, teaching, entertaining and a myriad of other responsibilities preclude my having many "leisure" days, so there is something very satisfying to me when I can sort, clean, redecorate, dejunk, and "play" at home.

I read recently that we should strive to eliminate one unnecessary or worn out item from our lives, each day. I took up the challenge the day after Christmas, and have been tossing and donating things I no longer want or need.

Of course, everyone does this at this time of year . . . .

but I'm going to keep doing it.

I always begin by starting a pot of homemade soup, and usually end in a cozy chair with a good book and a cup of tea. Some books you just have to keep and re-read . . . .

I hope you'll find great satisfaction in beautifying an area of your life.

Enjoy your winter days.

July Celebrations

JULY

We have arrived at the halfway point of 2009, and that gives me pause, encouraging me to think about my goals for this year. I feel good about several accomplishments, and at the same time,

I realize there are several projects I have yet to begin.

Reasonable women know that it is important not to be overly self critical.

(There are enough people out there to be critical of us as it is.)

Self employed women know that we set impossibly high standards for ourselves,

and truly believe that each year we will work "smarter and harder".

There is no way we can run our business, be all we wish to our family, deepen our friendships, enhance our love life, grow spiritually, get in better physical shape, learn new skills, dedicate ourselves to our favorite charity, life coach, renew our artistic endeavors, organize our paperwork, our cars and our workshops . . . . and so on.

We

try,

and that's important.

At this mid-point, I will rededicate myself to the goals I set for the New Year of 2009!

This is one of my favorite months of the year . . . and my birth month!

I was born very close to the Fourth of July, and for many of my early years,

I recall my mother saying,

"we're going to see fireworks tonight".

(In my childish mind, I supposed that those fireworks were just in my honor, for my birthday.)

I anticipated that evening all week . . . . having a special outfit, the packing of blankets, picnic basket and lemonade, even taking an afternoon nap, all in preparation for the evening's wonderment.

There would be sparklers - those firey fairy lights that one could dance around in the dark with, swirling and leaping, to create trailing arcs of magic.

It was the kickoff of my birth month!

No slacker - I needed more than a birth DAAAAAY . . . .

A whole

month of celebration

was more in my plan.

I was priviledged to be able to choose my birthday cake flavor.

For many years it remained angel food cake with chocolate frosting.

I was probably as delighted with the name of that cake -

"angel food"

as I was with the taste.

I was thrilled by the spectacle of red, white and blue "stars", bursting in the air,

the excitement of the crowds celebrating, flags waving, dads taking the dayoff, burgers grilling, ice cold watermelon, often a daytrip to the beach!

MY SPECIAL DAY!

Even after I came to the realization that there was a bigger celebration than my little birthday,

I continued to be thrilled by the festivities and fireworks,

and am to this day.

What a lucky girl I am!