January Joy

January has been pretty good to me so far,

and here are some of the things

that  have brought me joy this month.
 

I found this ornament at my favorite home décor shop in my town.  I liked the words, and just had to get it.

 

My 2019 calendar!

I usually get a Mary Engelbreit one, but I was a little late this year, and they didn't have any when I went to look, so this was a nice change.  The month of February is my favorite page.

I'm lovin' my copper tea pot.  It's a smaller one, but just right for a single cup of tea or coffee.  And the spout is long, which makes it easier to pour. 

Nel and Jess send me pictures of the babies every week.  I don't like to post too many pictures of my grandchildren, but when Nel sent me this, how could I not share it with you?  I thought it was so sweet that although she stayed in for New Year's Eve, her and Mia got all dressed up in their black dresses to ring in the new year.

When I saw this frame, I thought it was so me,
and had to buy it.  I like to treat myself with something in the new year cause it's uplifting.

I hung it above my cluttered desk.  This is the only piece of furniture I have that belonged to my mother, so I haven't been able to part with it.  I want to paint it someday, maybe a white or cream color.

All the rain that we've been having!

I got a surprise visit from Francesca.  She was in town for her other grandma's birthday, and although I only got to spend a short time with her, it was such a treat to see her. 

Nel moves back to California this summer!
She really loves Georgia, and it was a great experience for her to live there for awhile, but all of her and Renecke's family is here in California.  It will be good to have my girl back home again.

Some people don't like the cemetery, but I'm just glad that it's close enough to where I can say hello to my mom and dad once in awhile.  As I was driving out, I noticed these red roses that looked so pretty sitting next to Mary's feet.  Mary brings me joy.  

 Saw some geese at the cemetery.
For some reason,
they always bring me joy.

I saw a friend at church yesterday who I haven't seen in a long time, and it really made my day.   We go way back, to when I was around 13.  Such a good person.

I hope the new year has delivered joy
to you also.

 ~Sheri
 

Balance And Harmony

To start the new year, I thought it would be nice to take a drive in the country.  That always rejuvenates me and lets me see the world through a different perspective.  I first stopped at the nursery café for a bite to eat.  The special of the day was raisin scones, and it was just the right treat to go along with my coffee. 

 

I'm not sure what these red flowers are, but they looked so pretty surrounded by the barbed wire and thick country grass. 

Be soft.  Do not let the world make you hard.  Do not let the pain make you hate.  Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.  Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.
~Kurt Vonnegut

 

On my way home, it started to rain.  We have some of the oldest trees in our area.
 

Later that day, I noticed that someone hung this green ornament from the magnolia tree right near my house.  It wasn't there all season, but only in the new year.

 
I was looking up what the color green symbolizes, and here are a few notes that I came across...
 

*The color green relates to balance and harmony.

*Green is directly related to nature and energy.

*The color green has healing power,

and is understood to be the most restful and

relaxing color for the human eye.
 

Yes, a drive in the country is just what I needed
to start the new year.
I got my balance and harmony back, and
 I saw acres and acres of green.

~Sheri

Just Because, A New Year

It gets pretty busy around the holidays, and all I've wanted to do lately is get back to nature, a place of simplicity, and if I don't visit as often as I should, it always calls me home.  January is the coldest month here, and there has been frost on the lawns in the neighborhood.

 

 

 

Our sweet birds

in northern California....

nature's song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saw a few pretty sunrises recently.

 

 

 

 

 

Met my son for a Starbuck's treat

very early in the morning.

 

 

These small flowers

are still hanging on in the cold.

 

 

I think I like the alleys

because you always find something

interesting there.

 

 

Red roses seem to follow me

wherever I go.

 

 

So then, neither the one who plants

nor the one who waters

is anything,

but God who is causing it

to grow.

1 Corinthians 3:7

 

 

A good reminder for the new year.

 

 

Oh, what a delight it will be

to see the grandkids

on this.

 

 

Remember these?

When Jess put this in my stocking, I don't think she knew how special it was to me.  I used to walk down to the store when I was a young girl, about a mile away from our house, and look at all the penny candy.  I would collect my nickels and dimes and buy all the candy I could with it.  Sometimes I would get one of these, and you know, I still love them to this day.  : )

 

 

 

I want to write in my journal

more in the new year.

 

 

As I was looking through the store windows,

I noticed this.

 

 

My wish for you in 2019 is
kindness
May you receive it,
 and also shower it on others.

love you,

~Sheri