The Teacup Bouquet

We went to visit our daughter who lives and works as a doctor in Albuquerque, NM and finally see her beautiful new home. It is beautiful, spacious and comfy, with many unique features.and I'm so happy for her and her husband, John!  (So I have my husband, John, my son John, my son-in-law John and my grandson John.  It can be confusing!) While she was working we went on a drive out to a community called Los Poblanos. The focal point of the community is the Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm. The crop they focus on is Lavender. We got to see the field, but the harvest had already happened so it only looked like green bushes. We hoped to eat at the restaurant, but they only allow visitors for dinner and you must set your reservation in advance. The actual Inn and immediate surrounding area is restricted to only Inn guests. So, we didn't get to see much there but if you yearn for some "down" time in a beautiful setting, this might be the place for you to sta...

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Having tea with a best friend....sharing what's on my heart........                                                                                                     I feel like I've lost myself.....Do you ever feel this way? Well, I've decided I'm going to ask myself some questions that might help me find myself.  Even though we've all heard that the best way to reply to a question you don't want to answer is to answer with a question, sometimes answering questions reaveals t...

Did you hear about Greta Friedman Dying? My mother has mentioned this picture many times. She's said " I'll never forget that day! People were in their homes, stores and streets hugging, kissing and rejoicing with people they knew and didn't know!"  "The Kiss" is a photograph that portrays a U.S. Navy sailor grabbing and kissing a woman in a white dress on Victory over Japan Day in New York City's Times Square on September 2, 1945. It became an iconic picture symbolizing the end of World War II and  Momma remembers seeing it in newspapers as it spread across the nation.  The woman in the white dress was Greta Friedman and she died this past week at 92 years old.  Who she was and who he was stayed a mystery for many years. They were not and never became romantically involved, but the mystery of who they were and why he did it did get solved! Read these articles. They tell all about it! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2187071/Times-...

A friend posted a picture of this house on facebook because it reminded her of another friend, Kathy.  I understand why: Kathy’s family are all  extremely gifted in music – singing and playing instruments; they can play an array of instruments and sing an array of melody and harmony parts and Kathy has the know how to advise on sound settings in concert situations.  Sweet Kathy is the specialist in keeping the “harmony” in the family, I believe.  We’ve shared some very special times together and they’ve had a significant part in encouraging my son on his road to becoming the successful musician he is today.  As only true friends can do, they have also stood by our family through some very grave experiences in our lives and they will always be very dear to us. “the most romantic building in China”. Anyway, I wanted to know more about  The Piano House. Here’s what I’ve learned: It is in Huainan, Anhu...

"What is your favorite flower?"  asked the young man to the young lady who was taking his heart, one moment, one hour, one day at a time. However, life had knocked her around quite a bit in the most recent years and choosing a favorite flower had certainly NOT been on her mind! But, somewhere inside, she knew and gave her answer...it was the rose.  But she did not know why. Was it because they burst fourth, soft and beautiful, on a bush filled with thorns?  Was it because their aroma could permeate the area around them, no matter the poverty and squaller that might be there?  Or was it because they still stretched their beautiful petals upward, even in drought and bright, hot sunshine?  Or was it just that she was captivated by their beauty, array of colors and various arrangements of petals that make the rose such a versatile plant to include in bouquets expressing one's love or condolence?  Or, had she read the legend of the rose in which a young man r...

I've experienced living but not making memories. And I have experienced loosing memories I once had.  I have felt amazed, even astonished, when folks tell me that things happened that I participated in or of serious decisions I made,  all the while  appearing very cognitive, but having no memory of it when it comes up later in my life.  Thinking further on these situations, it becomes somewhat frightening and very mysterious. Sometimes I feel sorrowful when I don't have the fond precious memories that my family laughs about and enjoys. Sometimes I feel lonely and in my mind I ask, " How can this be?"  But until recently I had no answers for it. Thank God that he has helped me with this and given me some info from a capable neurologist that helps me understand. Now, I see there are so many possible answers to my question, "how can this be?". Here's some possibilities: We're not in the moment . Instead, our ...

"Putting away Christmas"  is always a challenge for me.  I'm sad to return it all to it's storage where it will remain tucked away for the next 10 months.  My 35 or so nativities are lovely out on the shelves as they depict such varying views. Thought you might enjoy viewing my nativity collection. I have several new ones this year that I still need to add, so check back in a few days and hopefully I'll have added the new ones. Sometimes this slide show moves slower than it should.  Please be patient and it will continue...

That night I woke up to hearing my baby sister Lucy ,  age 4 whispering to me, age 8, that she needed to go to the bathroom. Today that would be as simple as sliding out of bed, padding to the bathroom and doing your business and then padding back to a big soft bed. Not so in our old house in Indiana! We had a one seater out house and if you had to go outside, it was a chore. So my response was "Let's go!" It was Christmas vacation from school and we were so hyped up abo ut Santa coming and what presents he would bring us so going to the outhouse wasn't that big of a deal! We pulled our coats and boots and hats on and headed down the basement stairs and out the back of the basement into a truly white December night. The air was so still and cold, we felt breathless! The stars were twinkling all around us and we hurried to our duties. As we walked back up the sidewalk to the basement door and our warm house, we saw some falling stars. Lucy caught her bre...

As I sit in my rocker, here looking at our tree, the Christmas lights and ornaments are shining back on me. Oh those precious mem'ries of places long ago. Oh, those precious mem'ries, a-sledding in the snow! We wiggled as we giggled and our faces were aglow! Oh those precious mem'ries - a-bouncing down we'd go! As I sit in my rocker just looking at your face, your eyes reflect the sparkling of flames in fireplace. Oh, those precious mem'ries.of trudging up the hill. Oh, those precious mem'ries.We sled downhill until - you tipped the sled right over and it gave us both a thrill! Oh, those precious mem'ries.That snow gave us a chill. As I sit in my rocker. and you sit there in yours, I realize we're holding hands as faithfulness endures. Oh, those precious mem'ries. Again, we'd get a shove. Oh, those precious mem'ries. Remember your lost glove? Remember way atop the hill that seemed so far above? Oh, those precious ...

I do not remember my mother wearing aprons. The only time I remember seeing someone wearing aprons when I was A child was Aunt Bea on the Andy Griffith Show.  Now I'm a little taken with the idea of a wardrobe of pretty aprons.  So, since I can't see that happening anytime soon, the next best I could do was create this board. Enjoy! http://www.pinterest.com/beckybenedict3/christmas-aprons/  

My dear friend, Mary is right on!  Here's what she recently posted: When I was a young child, I wanted to be older. I went to school where there were multiple classes in one room. I loved that because I could do my work and then listen to the other classes being taught to the older students. I loved learning. When I was 5, I wanted to be 6. When I was a teenager, I couldn’t wait to drive. Then I couldn’t wait until I graduated. Then I couldn’t wait to get married….you get the picture. Now that I’m 63, I've accomplished many of my dreams, simple as they were. I’ve married, had my babies, watched my children grow up, probably with some of the same dreams. I’ve watched my grandsons grow up and most likely will see great grand children before I depart this world. I guess what got me on this train of thought was a visit from a dear, old friend today. I’ve known him since I was 18 and he’s considerably older than me. I wonder what his dreams were as a child. Probably some were the ...