Finds and Treasures (2)

I am a bit behind schedule with my second Friday Finds. A whole day behind! I worked most of yesterday altering and hanging new curtains in my dear little mother's kitchen window. I was away from home most of the day. Some things didn't go as smoothly or as quickly as hoped but the end result was just what we envisioned. Just right!

Recent thrifting has added a few more new things to my collection of treasures. I don't know what I will put in this pair of cute little frames but I couldn't leave them behind.This sweet little pitcher has found a home in my kitchen. When I saw this darling blue and white teacup I couldn't believe the price. A real bargain.The birds inside the cup. . .And around the saucer make me smile.This beautiful teacup was the same great price as the first one. My photos don't do it justice! My first cup and saucer made in. . .The delicate accent inside of the cup. . .and every detail is just perfect.I'll share more finds again next week. On Friday! And now I think I'll make some tea and enjoy one of these new cups.

Spring Beauty

Spring is such a lovely time of year in my part of world. I love the colors of the trees and flowers around town. Recently I stepped outside with my camera and walked around my yard to see what was blooming.

Late-blooming tulips

Pink Scilla

A Red Rhododendron

Snow on the Mountain

Big Purple 'Bachelor Buttons'

Joseph's Coat

Mexican Orange

Lilacs

Lavendar

And my neighbor's Molus Azalea nearby.

The beauty continues around town. This pink rhodie shows her color on a busy corner near our post office.

Our town is filled with Springtime color everywhere. I wish you could see it with me. What fun we would have!

His Hands

His Hands can move the mountains

His Hands can calm the sea

His Hands can hold the sparrow

His Hands hold you and me

His Hands hold all creation

And through His Hands, salvation

I can rest my soul

I can rest my soul. . .in His Hands

Song: 'His Hands'

Written by Bonnie Knopf

A Gift From The Heart

I couldn't let today pass without wishing my sweetheart, Dave, a happy birthday here. He would prefer that his day goes by in a quiet, unadvertised way. By his choice there was no special celebration for him today. Tomorrow after church my dear little mother will join us here at our home for a dinner prepared just for him. This dear man who I love with my whole heart gave a gift to someone else today. The gift of himself and his strength. He is a gentle, tender man who cherishes opportunities to bless others in helping ways. So, today, one of the hottest days of our year so far - by his choice - he headed up a crew of men from our church to meet at my dear mother's home, joining together to put their hands to a task that required much energy and hrad work. He chose this day to completely sand her good-sized deck and prepare it for new stain. A job that needed to be accomplished last summer. Every time he scheduled a crew to help him we had rain. Lots of rain last summer. Today he gave the gift of himself. On his birthday, much to my dear mother's protests. Soon she will be able to use her deck to relax, visit and entertain friends and enjoy her beautiful back yard. More than a job well done. A gift on his birthday to her. A gift from his heart.

I love you, my sweetheart, and I admire and respect the Godly qualities that make you the person you are. I am so glad - and blessed - that God chose me to share life with you. On this day we celebrate more than your birth - we celebrate YOU!

Blue Skies

Blue skies

Smiling at me

Nothing but blue skies

Do I see

Bluebirds

Singing a song

Nothing but bluebirds

All day long

Never saw the sun shining so bright

Never saw things going so right

Noticing the days hurrying by

When you're in love, my how they fly

Blue days

All of them gone

Nothing but blue skies

From now on

Sunny and warm here today. And blue skies! Not.a.cloud.in.the.sky. Not one. Not anywhere!

A Pioneer Home

An original log cabin - part of the Old Aurora Colony Museum complex - gives an idea of early life in our area.My dear mother and I enjoyed touring the little cabin and we often commented about how different their lives were from ours today.

The Steinbach cabin was built in 1875 to house George and Katherine Steinbach and their five children. The cabin was originally built on the bank of the Willamette River, about four miles north of Aurora. It is built with cedar logs and chinked with mud and straw. The Steinbachs lived in the cabin for seven years. It is one of three surviving cabins from the colony. The pieces of furniture within the cabin are original colonial artifacts, a portion of which were used by the Steinbachs.

The kitchen 'sink'. . .

A stove used by the lady of the house. . .

Kitchen storage and. . .

Useful gadgets and serving pieces give a glimpse of life in a pioneer kitchen.

Fredrick Miley, Mrs. Steinbach’s father, came to live with the family at a later time. To accommodate his needs, a lean-to addition with a separate entrance was added. This turned the cabin into what we now call a duplex. (You can see the addition and 'Grandpa's' entrance in the first picture above.) Originally there was a wall at the back of his room that separated his living quarters from the rest of the family. In that wall was a door that allowed him to enter and join the family in the main cabin. The wall has been removed to allow more efficient tours of cabin. A lovely old bed is displayed in 'Grandpa's room'.

A little wood stove kept 'Grandpa' warm. A washstand. . . And chamberpots under the bed. . .Provide all the comforts of home.

It is hard to imagine the challenges and struggles faced within the walls of this little pioneer home. No matter how hard their lives were, I'm sure there was laughter and singing. And the joyful voices of children. Sweet children. What more could a family ask?

Mother's Day Flowers

I love flowers. Anytime. Any place. For any occasion. For no occasion. Flowers seem to bring a sweet sense of something special to a room. When given by someone special they have deep meaning that is often not spoken. Roses are my favorites. Yellow roses. In the assortment of rose bushes around my yard there was only a miniature tree rose with tiny, sweet yellow roses. But there were no 'regular' yellow roses. Until now. My sweetheart gave me a beautiful yellow rose bush for Mother's Day. He will help me plant it in the backyard where I can see it from the kitchen and dining room windows. And the patio.

My dear little mother always give me a Mother's Day gift. I never know what wonderful things she has found and hidden away for that very special day when she celebrates motherhood with me. This year she gave me a gorgeous Martha Washington geranium for my patio. Or porch. Or wherever I choose to put it.Our church gave carnations to each lady 18 and over on Sunday. Our pastor and his wife struggled through several Mother's Days without children. It was painful for her and often brought tears. Then God surprised them with a son and later another son, now grown. They never forget that Mother's Day is not always a joyful day for every lady in the congregation so all ladies are celebrated. Mothers, Grandmothers and Great-Grandmothers are honored and a gift always awaits each lady at the end of the service. This year when nearly everyone was gone my dear mother and I were told that the remaining flowers would be thrown away if no one took them. Did we know someone who would appreciate them? Someone to bless with them? You bet I do! I brought them all home and kept them in water until this morning. Just before I left for the first care center where I minister on Tuesdays I put them into plastic to retain the moisture. They were in my arms as I walked through the door and handed them to the Activity Director to share with the residents. Everyone around us was thrilled and one man faultingly said, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!' By the time I was ready to leave the building I saw small bouquets of carnations in different places. On side tables in the hallway. At the nurse's station. In the dining room. Every place that could be seen by the residents as they come and go through their day. And I smiled, knowing how they brightened the lives of the special people I have come to love. Simple, small things mean so much. Flowers that would be thrown away. Unexpected blessings.