Friday, August 27, 2010

Our Sunday Drive....

Last Sunday we moved our daughter into her first apartment in her college town. On the way Home I asked my husband to take the back roads. I like to see the Amish farms, they keep them so clean and I have always been infatuated with them. I will not lie, I do like to peek at the Amish people too.

Why they are so fascinating, I don't know. Maybe because of the unknown.
Anyway, we were driving along and not really seeing any action. No buggies, no little children playing outside...nothing really. Just their beautiful homes and beautiful gardens. Then all of a sudden we came upon one Amish farm and there had to have been at least 30 buggies all in one area. Not a person to be seen. The house wasn't all that big and we wondered where all the people could be. You can kind of see some of the buggy tops in this picture below.


I must say, it's hard to do a drive by picture taking when your trying not to be noticed.
So you'll just have to picture it in your head.

Of course, I made my husband turn back and go by one more time, no I'm not a stalker! But, this time maybe 12 or so Amish women were walking from the barn to the house. It was such a neat sight! They were all dressed alike, in black dresses and pristine white aprons. I believe they had on black caps too. They seemed to be in two's. No children, no men....just these women. I really wanted to get a picture, but my other daughter was embarrassed. I guess, it would have been a bit awkward....almost stalkerish I admit. But, I've never seen anything like it before! I am guessing they were in the barn, probably for their service and it was time to get the Sunday meal ready for the others.

But, I do wonder....How do they know which buggie is theirs?

Monday, August 23, 2010

I Got It From My Momma....

Okay....so along with the passing of our Mom, comes....for some unknown reason to me and a couple other sister's, the need to clear her things. My Dad....and I can only fathom why, one of my sister's believe this needs to be done now. Actually, they started weeks ago....and only after some fussing from me and another sister, have kind of put a halt to it....for now, Thankfully. You see, WE are just not ready, to "box up" and Goodwill things! My Dad has always been one of a, get rid of what's not being used kind of guy and my sister has that gene.
Always cleaning and getting rid of!
So of course, when I do get down to see Dad....I check out the "box" and see what I'd rather NOT go to Goodwill. This drying rack was one of them and I was looking for a few "vintagey" type things to decorate with in my laundry room....I think it fit the bill!


It is a metal ring with the clothespins permanently attached. The metal has patina-ed perfectly with that white-ish coating that metal gets.

Dad said, "I don't need it, I don't hang "panties" to dry!

I also acquired some extra clothespins, which I need to find a special jar or bowl to display them in. For now I hung this on my vintage towel drying rack, along with a brand new rooster towel purchased at my local Thrift Store for .99 cents.

My Mom's dearest, closest friend Klara, was German. She stitched things for my Mom on occasion in her language. Of course, unless told (and remembered by Mom) we could never tell what things meant. One thing I know of, was a pillow Klara made my Mom to hold after Mom had heart surgery. So when she coughed she had something soft to hold onto against her chest. I have not seen that pillow and hope that one of my sister's has it or maybe it is still tucked away and has not been found. But, on my last visit down I did rescue this from the Goodwill box and immediately claimed it as mine. My only problem is, I have no idea what it says! Maybe one of you could tell me. Then I could stitch it on the backside so I can remember what it says!



This beautiful pillow is nicely aged. The red is still a great red and the background is sort of a tea aged white. How could anyone, seriously, get rid of something like this of our Mom's?! Not me!
I do have a few other things that I have acquired. I don't have them placed quite yet in my Home where I want them, so I will share those another time. As the year passes on, I am sure there will be other things. Mom was a giver and a collector, not necessarily of valuable things, but like alot of us, things that interested her. Some don't hold those things to heart, maybe in the way I do. Thru the years, I have been given, by Mom, some of the more precious things to me. But, there are still things, that maybe are forgotten, that may now find there Home with me!
Just a little side note. My Mom's dear friend Klara passed just a few month's before Mom. We like to think they are together now, again, laughing, joking and talking, just like they used to! My Mom's heart was broken when Klara passed and it seems that's when she started going down-hill herself. I believe, she missed her friend terribly, just like we miss her now!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Just Thoughts....

Letting your children grow up is hard to do!
Letting them make their own mistakes is even harder!
Making them responsible for those mistakes....
well, I'm still learning that!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

What The?....

Okay, so we have 2 daughter's that have had the "taste" of living outside our Home!

The recently 20 yr old....2 yrs of dorm life! The recently 22 yr old....one year of "campus housing" and one year of sharing an apartment with a friend! So this summer finds them both Home again. Not that they "really" want to be, as they so often express to me especially lately! Don't forget, our life has changed too, with you both Home again!

But, my question IS....why do they think they can all of a sudden be so snappy with me?! I ask a simple question and I get snapped at, every time! They are in MY Home again after all! Least they forget who they still need to be respectful to!

They seem to think they can just come and go...as. they. please. without having to answer to anybody! By that I mean....If, for example, I ask what time will you be Home or when will you come Home, I get snapped at with an, " I don't know!" And when I ask why their response is like that....I get told, "I just feel like you constantly want to know my schedule and I don't know, I go day by day, moment by moment!" My response to that being, "I guess I deserve that! Since I'm just trying to figure out IF there will be enough food for you when you do come Home!"

I mean, don't get me wrong I Love Our Girls....but, come on, when did you get the right to be disrespectful to us because you had to move back Home this summer?!

We are still providing them shelter, their own bedroom, food, clean clothing and all the little luxuries that they seem to not remember....a pool to swim in on a hot day, paid cell phones and paid car insurance! Seems to me they have it pretty good for not wanting to be here so much!

So I think that they need to be showing alittle more respect then they do! Because when they do finally move out again....I might just be alittle snappy when they call and need to talk or need advice or say they are coming Home again....

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

A Little Garden Tour....

I thought I would share with you what the hubby
and I have been up to lately in our yard.
He took a little mini vacation, Weds. to Sunday last week, and we spent that time sprucing up our yard. Believe me when I say that with the heat we've been having here in Michigan, yard work hasn't been high on our list of things to do. But, then a bit of relief and we are back out there.
So sit back and relax while you join me for a mini tour.

I saved the Adirondack just for you!

Here is the starting path in our back yard.
My husband made this out of one of those forms.
The back part that looks sandy, we moved this past
Sunday from another area of our yard.


Here is a beautifully pink Holly Hock.
These pop up randomly thru-out our yard.
We like them when they are blooming,
but once that is over....
not-so-much!



This is a lavender colored
Obedient plant. These come up
faithfully, every year.
Hence the name
Obedient!




Now for the last 2-3 years we have been switching our yard
from the oblong pavers, to rock. We finally this past week/weekend
"found" the last 70 or so rock to finish the borders around our yard.
These are heavy-big-rock/boulders...almost!
But, we had a system to save our tired aching backs....
although, we did still feel it at the end of each day.
But, it was a good tired!


a view from the other direction.
The grass doesn't grow so well here,
there are 2 huge pine trees, and they drop
ALOT of pine needles. Plus, next to no sun
gets in this area. But, the rock looks good!


Another deeper pink Holly Hock.


A "blanket of flowers"


Mr. Sun has been hanging here,
year-round for about 4 years.
He's alittle mossy....
but, I love how it looks like he's smelling
this purple thistle!

I forgot last year to turn my bird bath top
over during the winter. It was in a few extra
pieces then I needed this Spring, so I came up
with my own top. The birds don't seem to mind!
(this is where the path used to be, I need to add some mulch here)
As long as you do what the sign says!
Enjoy the day....
go out and garden!

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