Abundance

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside My Window is a huge pine tree covered in itty-bitty pine cones that the squirrels spend all day chasing each other up and down. 

I am thinking of my grandmother who, at this time of year, would always be busy in her kitchen putting up fruits and veggies.  Although she never had space in her yard to grow things, she always took the time to take us to the pick-your-own farms where we'd labor for hours in the sun, turning brown as berries ourselves, so that she could can enough for our family for the coming seasons.  I used to love looking at the shelves in her basement lined with jars filled with yummy good things.  To me, there is nothing in this world that could shake that sense of having enough when looking at my grandmother's pantry shelves.

I am thankful for my amazing husband whose talents are beyond number and who, after thirty years, looks at me just as he did when we first fell in love; a man who, on a hike one day, picked me one of each wild flower he came across and presented me with a beautiful bouquet when he returned home.

From the kitchen I hear the hum of the dishwasher after a very full morning of jam and jelly making.  On the table is a rainbow made of jelly jars filled with all sorts of wonderful sweet spreads for our homemade bread! 

I am wearing a denim split skirt (kind of like long, wide culottes) and a sage green tee shirt.  I have on my sage green tennis socks and a pair of sneakers since it's going to be a running day.  First preference is always bare feet!

I am creating a smocked bishop dress for my niece, Erin.  It's a beautiful white cotton with dusty pink and moss green smocking at the neck and around the short, puffed sleeves.

I am going this Saturday! to pick up my beautiful niece so that she can come and stay with us for two weeks.  Oh the plans we have … lots of fun! 

I am reading The Hills is Lonely by Lillian Beckwith.  Oh for a Scottish Island!!

I am hoping that all of our fruits and veggies do well this year.  Our lemon tree (no we don't live in Florida -- we raise it inside during the winter and outside during the summer) had a major drop of fruit and I'm hoping that it'll set more before we need to bring it inside in the autumn.

I am hearing the sound of lawn mowers, the swish of the curtains at my window as they brush over the wicker basket that sits in front of them, and the scratching of little squirrel claws as they go chasing each other up and down that big old pine tree.

Around the house are a myriad of projects in the making:  the smocked bishop dress; a sundress (all cut out and ready to stitch) for the niece who is coming to visit that we'll work on together; two little boy outfits in silk lawn for a brand new nephew; quilt squares made from the leftover fabrics from my nieces' dresses that will, eventually, be turned into full quilts for their hope chests when they've gotten a little older.

One of my favorite things is sitting during the heat of a summer afternoon beneath the ceiling fan in my living room while curled up on the loveseat reading a good book.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:  Straighten out the guest room (also sewing/craft room) and add some little tidbits that will be appreciated by a beautiful seven-year-old.

Here is picture thought I am sharing:

Why not stop by Peggy's for a visit to enjoy her Simple Woman's Daybook entry and the entries of other Simple Women.

E

You've been tagged!

02:37, Friday, October 31, 2008 .. Posted by Auntie eM of The Salt Box

From me: http://saltydisciplines.blogspot.com