Joy

Saturday Scenes

I didn't tell you about the sweet little yellow pottery birds I bought at Flourishes last month. They have found a home on my coffee table that is really an old trunk that once belonged to my sweetheart's father and grandparents. I didn't know just what I wanted to put in their little 'trough' until I found a bag of White Linen potpourri. I like the browns and blues with the yellow birds.Today was Friend To Friend, a once-a-month dessert time for ladies in the Portland area. The two gals who do the centerpieces for the tables are very creative and they always have such wonderful ideas. The centerpieces are for sale and are always very popular. When I saw what they put together for today I didn't hesitate to buy one of these sweet little yellow purses filled with violas.I knew exactly where it should go. I added a sweet little book from my shelf.

A touch of Spring, a little book and yellow pottery birds. I thought my day was complete! But wait. I came home to an empty house. My sweetheart had thatched the lawns in our yard. Dry grass lay everywhere ready to be raked up. A few minutes later he arrived but not alone. He had hired help! Our grandson Mr. C. (on the right) and his good friend Mr. J.! They had come to help rake and bag the grass. And to help Papa. They worked hard and enjoyed the cooler that held their favorite sodas. A bit later our oldest granddaughter, Miss A., arrived to help.

It was a fairly warm day, they worked hard and Papa paid them well. They were thrilled when I handed each of them pictures of their afternoon at our house. I gave each of them an envelope to keep their pictures safe for the trip home. Mr. J. asked for a pen. On his envelope he carefully wrote:

10 bucks!!!!

J.

Go Ducks!!!!

Boo Beavers!!!!

I am thrilled to have new treasures on my old trunk. But the thrill is surpassed by the treasured people who worked hard here today - my kind and generous sweetheart, two dear-to-my-heart grandchildren and a special little friend. They will return again some time soon. Perhaps to help work again. Or just to visit and enjoy being at our home.

Those Who Live In Glass Houses. . .

Shouldn't throw stones.

My dear little mother loves to use old quotations and sayings. She has said this one for years. When I was a child she had to explain it to me. It makes sense!

One of the special places at Monticello Antique Marketplace is the Garden Salvage room. It is a huge room with big glass windows and a garage-style door that opens to the side street. Perfect for loading and unloading big treasures. I could have the most fantastic yard and garden with what I saw in that room. And I could easily furnish my home with many of the furnishings found there. But what really captured my heart were the glass houses set up for sale there. I could picture one in my back yard. Not far from the patio door. I would go there often. Maybe with a friend. For tea. And conversation. Or alone. With a book.

Passers-by asked 'How did they get that in here?' One section at a time. It was assembled, disassembled, brought here and put back together again. Carefully. When my sweetheart looked at these pictures I suggested that he could build one for me. He said, "It's not rain-proof!" I said, "Oh, but dear, you could make it weatherproof. For me!" He didn't say anything. He could. I know he could. But I don't think he added it to his to-do list!

If you don't like white, it comes in colors.

What a sweet place it could be! A special place. Away from the cares of the day.

Or, a little greenhouse filled with beautiful flowers. I will let you know when a little glass house is built in my back yard. When I get one. IF I get one. Until then, I'll just look out my window and imagine how wonderful it would be to invite you in to visit and enjoy my little glass house. And we won't throw stones!

At The Marketplace

I promised to show you more from the wonderful day my dear mother and I had together last Friday. And I promised to give you a closer look at some of the wonderful things we saw at Monticello Antique Marketplace. As soon as we walked through the door we knew this would be an adventure we would remember. We were sure we couldn't possibly see it all - and I'm sure we didn't, but we came close.

There were tea sets. . .

Pretty dishes. . .Cups and saucers. . . White linens and beautiful china. . .

Lavender toile plates. . . Color-coordinated displays. . .

Lovely hand-embroidered linens. . .

Treasures of all kinds under glass. . . Shelves filled with wonderful things. . . Sweet yellow shoes for little feet. . .
Old linens that formed a heart. . .Vintage clothing and ribbons and trims and lace. . .A finely crafted collar. . .And a lace cape. . . Shelves filled with thread and laces and trims. . . And beautiful ribbons that had been formed into flower pins. I must confess that I went back again today. An early morning chaplain meeting took me within blocks of this enchanted place. On my way home, as the lunch hour approached, I turned and found my way back once again. Time for lunch. A quiet lunch. Alone this time. And a bit of time to browse and see it once again. I felt as if I were visiting a dear friend. Things had changed. Vendors had come and gone this morning, leaving behind them more wonderful things to see and dream of. Again today I knew I would return often. At least once a month on my way home from my early-morning meeting nearby. Perhaps to shop. Or stop for lunch. Or enjoy the vintage photos tastefully arranged on the walls of the ladies' room!

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

Over us sin no more hath dominion—

For more than conquerors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Words and music by Helen Howarth Lemmel

A Special Day Away

Thank you to each of you who left comments and sent emails to me yesterday. Your special words and thoughts meant more to me than words can express.

My dear mother and I had a wonderful day away! I chose just the right place for us to spend most of our day together. It was such a wonderful place - as I had been told - and I will return again. Soon. We went to Monticello Antique Marketplace in Southeast Portland - a place where we could have a relaxing day away together. We shopped until our tummies said it was time to stop for lunch. We didn't have to leave the building - lunch is available in the upper loft area at Monti's Cafe. The menu is filled with such wonderful-sounding things. It was hard to decide. We were pleased with our choices - and the food was excellent.

(That's my dear little mother at the order window.)

The cafe seating is perfect. Some of the tables are placed between bookcases filled with well-cataloged and labeled books. My dear mother said, "Oh, this is just like eating in a library!" And it was. We chose a table near the window. We enjoyed every minute of our lunch time together.

Vendors have filled every inch of this old building with treasures. Treasures just waiting to be found. From the cafe loft area above you get a glimpse of the marketplace below.

What did we buy? Treasures. Special treasures. Treasures that delighted our hearts and made us smile. I bet you'd never guess that mine were yellow! I have wanted a yellow Lipton teapot for a long time. A friend bought one several years ago and decided she would rather have a blue one. She made me an offer that I pursued for a time - find her a blue Lipton teapot and she would trade with me. When I called to say I found a blue one (did she still want it?) she said no, she had decided she preferred the yellow teapot! Yesterday I finally found mine - at a wonderful price. My dear mother first noticed the little star-shaped yellow glass candleholder. She knew I would want it - she was right! The yellow and blue teabag holder just couldn't stay at the marketplace. It had to come home with me! It's so cute and the teabags came with it! Green tea with lemon. Isn't tea with lemon appropriate for my yellow teabag holder and teapot?

If you want to know more about Monticello Antique Marketplace and see some wonderful pictures, check their blog. Be sure to look at all of the older posts, too - they have some great photos of wonderful treasures.

There is more to see - so much more. I'll share more of our day away soon. Very soon.

At Home

Five years ago today my father passed beyond the boundaries of this earth and entered the gates of Heaven. I can't imagine the welcome home reception he must have had. He had served his Savior well. He was a good and faithful servant. He had fought the good fight. He had finished his course. He had kept the faith. He was ready to enter into the presence of the Lord.

Today I will take my dear little mother and go away for the day. Away from home but not away from the memories. Memories of a dearly loved man. Memories of the life he lived. Memories of the love he had for us. But most of all memories of his deep love for his Lord. We miss him more than we can say but we wouldn't ask him to come back if we could. Not for a minute. Not for a second. He is home - where he belongs. Imagine the joy!

Picture: "Home at Last"
Artist: Danny Hahlbohm

From art.com