Consider Lilies

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these." Matthew 6:28

That is a verse I turn around and spin in my head all the time for I am a spinner.

peace and joy

Olive

Tied To A Place

All of these images were taken in the mountains of western North Carolina last weekend. 

 The last image of the decaying moss covered roof is my aunt and uncle's house. They have been dead for quite a long time. It saddens me no end that not one of their many children{they had 14 kids} or grandchildren could save the house.

Do I feel more tied to that place than they do? 

Maybe so.

Do you feel tied to places from your past? 

Tell me in the comments.

In Olive Out news I have been up to a lot lately and have some good news for y'all.

 I will be posting about all that next week. As a result I have not been able to party like a rock star or visit like the friend I ought to be.

joy and peace

Olive

Tired Always Follows Sick

I am sick and tired this month. Tired always follows sick as the brilliant Bill Cosby reminded us. April has been tough and nearly overwhelming for me. The Boston Marathon Bombing Terrorist attacks followed by the tragedy in the town of West, Texas. I despair every time I hear another parent claim their grown child is as innocent as a white dove. I had parents of convicted murderers tell me that all the time when I was a Director of Nursing for the Georgia Department of Corrections. 

We all are in potential what every criminal is in actuality. I learned that there is a thin fine line between criminals and us. I hear you shouting in protest "But I have the sweetest child." I am sure you do. Please, please, parents never claim your children can do no wrong. Hold them accountable for their mistakes. It may be the greatest gift you give to them.

If you think this blog shallow or too focused on all things pretty just know that I have spent far too much time, working as an RN in challenging locations, and need this pretty refuge. I seek the solitude of gardening and making our home comfortable for a reason. If you have not read my Hold Everything Lightly Series at the top of the page you might want to consider it.

Our daughter, CC, has a dear friend whose mother died, last night, at age 52, of breast cancer. She was surrounded by her husband and children. We know she is no longer suffering and is with Her Lord. CC is hurting and is away at college and unable to comfort her friend. Here again April has been a difficult road to travel.

Hug Someone You Love Today

Olive

My View Is Just As Important As Curb Appeal

Our yellow house has many windows and I plant flowers with that in mind.  

My view is always a consideration.

  I helped a sweet friend of mine select plants from a local nursery last Thursday. She bought me this popcorn viburnum and a catmint plant for helping her. I am excited to have both of these plants. The viburnum is in my view from the deck.

  This is a faux copper urn another sweet friend sold to me for next to nothing with the catmint planted in it. Catmint is invasive and that is why I put it in a planter. It will have purple blossoms later. This planter is in my view when I drive into the driveway or walk in the gravel road we live on.

 I seldom share the front of the yellow house because it is rather plain but the salvia has started blooming and I adore it's spiky blooms. Salvia is a winning perennial for me and blooms from now until winter. That is getting my money out of a plant. I cut back all my perennials in February and that helps them bloom in the spring. I see that view of the front steps every time I drive into the driveway. I keep pots of succulents on each step and a little birdbath.

These iris were transplanted from our old house to the yellow house last year. I planted them in the side yard.

 This is my view from the den door where I sit and blog. The curvy gravel road has our yellow house and four other houses on it but they are spaced well apart. I garden for my view. I want to see beautiful flowers when I look out the doors, windows, and deck, of our house. Curb appeal is important but so is my view. 

Gardening brings me peace and I feel close to God in my backyard flower garden and yard. There is nothing like the feel of sunshine on my face and dirt on my fingers. The satisfaction of spying a new bloom from my kitchen window is worth all the work.

Linking@Wow Us Wednesday's

What is your gardening philosophy?

Olive

Wire Cloche

This week has been Not So Good and Very Bad as weeks go. Capital letters do not begin to cover it. I have a little poster on the pantry door, at the old house, that says Crazy Does Not Begin To Cover It. That covers it. Instead of dwelling on the bad bad happenings let's look at my wire cloche instead. Escape works for me.

This is an unplanned cloche vignette. I had the basket urn filled with wine corks and the wire cloche which seemed not to work with much and suddenly had a Eureka moment. Add vintage clock, antler, and knot and call it done. I also evicted Marie Antoinette (the bust) from this spot.

Every item on the cabinet was thrifted except the hydrangeas which come from my garden.

Linking@Be Inspired

Home Sweet Home

Cloche Party At Marty's February 11

joy and peace

Olive

Family Funerals

It has taken me a week to gain perspective on a family funeral I attended. 

My family requires months, even years of perspective. If you have read any of my Hold Everything Lightly series, above, you might understand. My great Aunt K. died, she was just shy of ninety. When I was much younger I used to spend time with her but I have not seen her recently. One of my aunts and her daughter have been faithful to visit and care for her. Unfortunately much of what they did for her will go without credit.

I almost walked out of the church because someone was there who hurt me terribly when my beloved daddy died. It took every fiber of my being and the grace of God to hold me in place. Then my Big Sister came in the door and I did not know what she might do because she is far more volatile than I and was involved with that whole incident. My sister did not recognize me.  I have grey hair, have lost weight, and had on heels. A vast difference than my former look when she saw me last year. Yes, it was at least a year since I have seen my sister. We do talk on the phone however. We sat together and she told me she nearly left when she saw the person who caused us so much pain when we were mourning our dad. We are united in that we are the two children left of our parents. Our brother, Fred, was killed by a drunk driver fifteen years ago. Mom had more children later. 

. It was dizzying for me to see friends from high school grown yet strangely the same. They did not recognize me(grey hair strikes again). We saw a vast array of first cousins, cousins thrice removed, aunts, and uncles. Upon reflection I noticed neither preacher who spoke mentioned my great uncle who married my aunt 58 years ago. I do not think that an accident. He was mean and hateful. He was my grandfather's brother.

Going to my hometown is too strenuous and intense for me.

I cannot do it with perspective or grace anymore. 

Too many ghosts of the past lurk there. 

The scary part is they have a pulse.

 joy and peace

Olive

When a Shrub Is More Than a Shrub

When is a plant, a shrub, more than a shrub? 

When it brings back memories of another life. 

A far away life.

  Every time you look at it you are are taken aback and slightly shocked by how fast it happens.

Is it a blessing it will not bloom for a long time?

Bridal Veil Spirea

Bringing back joy, sadness, and maudlin thoughts. 

There was one in my Aunt Vera's yard and I cannot look at ours without thinking of her.

joy and peace

Olive

Love Hurts

Life lessons are hard.

 Yesterday was one of those days for our daughter. 

Tears were shed.

Tears of anger and frustration at a situation that was not in hers or our control.

 

I felt as if I had aged about ten years and maybe I did.

 I encouraged her that in the big wide scope of the world in a few years all this drama will be very small. 

I am not sure that helped. 

Love hurts.

Olive

No No

Do you ever feel that life is filled with mixed messages?

I do.



grace surrounds us

Olive