It Started with Rocks

It started with rocks...

There were so many of them when we moved into this house. Big rocks, small rocks, rocks in the grass, rocks under bushes, rocks in the walkway, rocks and rocks and rocks everywhere!

I have to admit, I was overwhelmed by the amount of work I had to do inside and out of the house when we moved back to California. Our place in Georgia was newly remodeled, in a beautiful neighborhood, and full of southern charm. 

Before moving to Georgia, I'd been living in run-down apartments for 15 years while working my way through my B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs. Some weeks I put in upwards of 80 hours of work a week. It was hard. So much work. All I could do was put one foot in front of the other day after day after day.

 When we moved to Georgia it felt like a sweet break. But before I knew it, I was back to California and living in an old, rundown house that seemed like an extension of all the work I'd been doing for so many years. Endless cleaning, and renovating, and digging up weeds and roots and rocks. We planted new gardens, and they were beautiful for a short while, but after a few weeks they just wilted and died.

One day, I sat staring angrily at a pile of rocks I had pushed into a corner of the yard, and I had an idea. What if I made something beautiful out of the rocks? What if I colored in and lit up all those jagged and broken pieces I had tried so hard to hide and discard?

 I remembered that my mom had dreams of building a garden for fairies. I found the fairies a house.

And then another...

When I told my mom I was building a fairy garden she gave me a few of the treasures she'd been saving over the years. 

 

  

It took a lot of hard work--digging, and raking, and moving heavy rocks--and also creative vision, but I finally made something really pretty out of that ugly pile.

My mom always says never lose your magic or your hope. I believe that with hard work your magical and hopeful visions can come true. My fairies do too.

Image from Pinterest

~Nel

A Sprinkle Of September

Most of you know that I'm Catholic, and I have been missing attending Mass and especially receiving Communion.  Ever since the churches closed months ago, I have been watching Mass on tv, which has also been nice.  Some of the churches have re-opened and are having the Masses outside.  The other day I realized I was out of coffee, so I drove through Starbucks to get some, and on the way there, I stopped at a lovely Catholic church just to see the grounds and spend time there for awhile.  It brought much peace, and there was a sign in front of the church that would comfort many people who visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since we all have to stay home during this time,

here's a few pics of home.

 

Pork chops covered with a glaze.

They were really good.

 

Sometimes I put jam on my oatmeal for a sweet taste.

 Today, it was apricot.

 

 

My Fall cups are all clean and ready to go.

 

 

Don't ya love it when your

chocolate chip cookies turn out just right?

 

 

I feel a nip in the air in the mornings now.
My favorite season is about to begin.

"The foliage has been losing its freshness, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first grey hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many."

~Oliver Wendell Holmes

How are you doing friends,
during this strange time that we are in?
I'm sure you have many different
emotions going on like I do.
Please do share.

~Sheri

Amarantha Sweet And Fair

Had a bad weekend.  No electricity and no water.  One was caused by the breaker box switch, and the other was a neighbor's septic problem.  And then some car maintenance stuff.  Let's just say it was an awful day and extreme heat.

 

So let's talk about something nice.

I put out my first Fall decoration.   This glass pumpkin is one of my favorites.

 

 

 

Let's put on some coffee.  I make mine with a single coffee filter, and it really makes the best hot coffee.

 

 

The new Fall goodies are out at Starbuck's, so I had to get a pumpkin scone.  I thought I'd heat it up myself so it was warm and tasty.

 

 

These are flowers outside my bedroom window.

Have any idea what they are?  They have the nicest scent.

 

 

 

Mia's new rocking horse.

 

 

AMARANTHA sweet and fair,
Ah, braid no more that shining hair!
As my curious hand or eye
Hovering round thee, let it fly!

Let it fly as unconfined
As its calm ravisher the wind,
Who hath left his darling, th' East,
To wanton o'er that spicy nest.

Every tress must be confest,
But neatly tangled at the best;
Like a clue of golden thread
Most excellently ravellèd.

Do not then wind up that light
In ribbands, and o'er cloud in night,
Like the Sun in 's early ray;
But shake your head, and scatter day!
 

   ~Richard Lovelace

Look's like someone got into mama's lipstick.

(Pictures of Francesca and Mia)

Have a sweet September week.

  ~Sheri 

September Reminds Me Of

I was having my morning coffee Saturday, and I came across this note from my Mom.  Yes, I keep treasured notes, and they are hidden in desks and drawers around the house, but mostly in a felt pouch which I bought especially for these keepsakes that I've had for years.  September is here, and this month always reminds me of my Mom. 

 

I miss visiting her at the cemetery up north, as I used to make a point to put flowers on her site rain or shine.

 

I miss going over her house and just visiting with her.  I would look all around and notice any new items that she had in her home.  Jess does this also when she comes over, and I always smile when she sees something new and comments on it, cause I used to do the same thing at my Mom's house.
 

She didn't have much jewelry, but I always admired these vintage earrings she had.  Aren't they funky?  I don't wear much jewelry any more, but when I was younger, I loved earrings, so these got my attention.  When she left this world, I got her pair of earrings that I admired so much, and keep them in a glass box with a few other pieces she had.

 

Somehow, the place where we grew up
always pulls us back at some time or another.

 

I was out on the lawn the other day watering the grass and plants, and I noticed a single weed on the front lawn.   I picked it and brought it in, but it eventually shriveled up.  Unlike the weeds that wither away and scatter, the memories of the ones we love really never die.  They remain with us til the end.

 

Just thinking about my mom lately, 

it's as simple as that.  ; )


 

September is a pleasant month,
one of my favorites.

~Sheri 

Pomona College

Me and Nel wanted to get away for awhile, so we took a drive and visited Pomona College.  Pomona's campus is in the heart of the Claremont colleges, and Nel thinks it has the prettiest grounds of them all.  In some of the scenes of Gilmore Girls where Rory attends Yale College, many of the scenes were really filmed at Pomona College.  I thought about being in the same place as Rory, as some episodes show her walking the halls of the campus that I visited on Sunday.

 

We first went through the Starbuck's drive through and got a treat for each of us.
 

 

There are beautiful old trees that provide shade for the students, and there was a squirrel right above us as we sat at the top of the stairs and enjoyed our coffee.
 

 

Time for Mia to stretch her legs and run.  There was a big grass area for her to run around at, and since she's two, she never stops.
 

 

She couldn't get enough of the water fountain.  The inside of the fountain is designed with blue tiles, and it was so pretty.
 

 

 

There was an area with brown flowers growing, and they were beautiful and reminded me that Fall is on its way.  Some of the leaves were already changing color.

 

This is a hill that Nel ran down several times,

making Mia laugh.

 

There was an outdoor area with a long wooden table and chairs where the teachers and students  can have group discussions. 

 

The sun was coming right through this tree looking lovely.

 

It was a fun day, and Nel wants to eventually show me all the colleges that make up Claremont College when we go on our drives to one of her favorite towns.  I will always remember these special outings.

~Sheri