Monday, March 17, 2014

The Simple Things of Life - # 6

The Simple Things of Life Are the Best…

Like an Old Picture Found at Goodwill
that Reminds You of Your Daughter



when you see it every morning as you wake up,
on the wall across from your bed,
reminding you of beach days when she was young,




in her Dorothy Hamill wedge haircut



and a scrap of pink shorts.


Sunday, March 16, 2014

The Simple Things of Life - # 5

The Simple Things of Life Are the Best…

Like the Smell of Onions Cooking in an Old Iron Skillet.




Friday, March 14, 2014

The Simple Things of Life - # 4

The Simple Things of Life Are the Best…

Like a Popsicle-Stick Cabin Made By a Child Years Ago.



Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Sunday, March 9, 2014

The Simple Things of Life - # 2

The Simple Things of Life Are the Best…

Like an Old Beloved Book.



Did you ever read Lad a Dog by Albert Payson Terhune?
Or see the old movie Lassie Come Home?

And bawl through them?

Do you love a simple, sweet, romantic story?

Do you know and love Gladys Taber?



Then this is the book for you. 
A dozen short stories by the beloved
Connecticut countrywoman,
Gladys Taber of Stillmeadow fame.


The perfect book to keep by your bed
and savor one story at a time.
Maybe shed a tear or two, happy ones.


Great literature?
There are times I run from it.

Stories of dysfunctional families?
No thanks, not anymore and 
not found in this book, glory be!
If you sometimes reach for a book to escape
"life is real, life is earnest"
then try this one instead of another depressing bestseller.
Choose to escape into a gentler time.






"But he'll never be recognized, because Scots
literature these days is all about complaining and
moaning and being injured in one's soul."

Alexander McCall Smith, The Sunday Philosophy Club


[Spode Morning Glory plate and cup shown on table and a nursery rhyme plate by Spode on wall. The old stained glass window of pink tulips was a gift from son Zack.]




Friday, March 7, 2014

The Simple Things of Life - # 1

The Simple Things of Life Are the Best…

Like the Smile of a Child!





Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Guess Who Came to Dinner?

Guess who came to dinner?
And breakfast?
And lunch?




Dressed in their best bib and tucker,
they lined up at Dewena's kitchen window.




One married couple fought over the best seat at the table.




R.H. made sure there was plenty for everyone.




Some ate buffet style at the window ledge
while others ate at the communal table.




Other guests ate at the drive-through window.




While most of our guests were vegetarians,
others chose a meat-and-three diner.




One special guest prefers meat only.
And he'll stand on his head to get the choicest bit.




They all order water afterwards.




Gurn dropped by to keep an eye on the breakfast crew.




And sipped hot coffee at the kitchen window.



The coffee was about all that was hot at R.H. and Dewena's yesterday.
The electricity was out for 26 hours.




With a low of 14 degrees forecast,
the faucets were kept dripping.

R.H. kept busy keeping the generator gassed up
to keep the coffee hot and the refrigerator cold.




Even though not toasty warm inside this house at Valley View,
there was beauty in all the window views.




The skylight revealed the beauty of Mother Nature's ice-scaping. 




Our guests lingered long after each meal was eaten.




And so did the ice.

What did Dewena do while R.H. kept the avian guests fed and was resident photographer?




Without her computer available there was always that stack of cookbooks 
to look through and dream of a different kind of dinner than bird seed and suet.