Friday, September 23, 2016

Making the most of today...


I bought these daisies two weeks ago today. 
The water has been changed only twice, yet they're still making me smile. I don't even mind the slight droop of a few petals. To me they are beautiful, happy, giving their all to life while they have it.

Quite often it's the little things that make the deepest impact on my heart.
Like these daisies doing their darndest to give the best from their short lives.

I'd like to think my life is about making people smile, blooming because I can, giving my all to each precious God-gifted day. Sometimes those desires are achieved, but other times I'm more of a weeping willow bent over the river of life unable to lift a branch, or not particularly inspired to do so.

The rhythm of life, eh? 
We have good days, we have slow days, we have challenging days, we have too-busy-to-breathe days. The key thing though, is that we HAVE days.
If we languish on the shore of weariness or complacency today, we can always rally and swim across to the other side tomorrow and lift our countenance. 
Every morning offers a choice. 
"Shall I be gloomy and self absorbed with woe today?"
OR
"Shall I give thanks because I have this day and make the very most of it's yet to be seen delights?"



Today Aisha arrives on the plane from Sydney with 5 month old Austin. 
Mr E has taken the day off work, and until that plane touches down late this afternoon we're taking it easy and simply enjoying the quiet hours at home alone. I know higher energy levels will be needed over the next four days and I'm going to be ready for them, because days with Aisha are few and far between so when she's here I don't want to be thinking about how much I'll miss her when she leaves. The days gifted to us are to be relished with pure and loving delight!

This mindset is a great improvement on how I viewed time with my children many years ago. Too many hours were wasted lamenting the 'end' and regretting the past, and not enough giving my all to what was before me in the here and now.

There are some ways I live in the past, though.

It's in memories of the joys from a childhood spent with Nana and Pop, their simple uncluttered lives and the things I remember them owning - like pretty china plates which Nan had had all her life, sturdy bakelite buttons sewn onto Pop's shirts and her aprons, flowers picked from her tiny front garden and displayed in water jugs on the battered kitchen table. 

Last Sunday Mr E and I wandered a local vintage market and I had my pocket money on hand in case I found some treasures from the past.
Do you give yourself pocket money? We've been doing this for 25 years. As a child I never had any, so getting pocket money each fortnight as an adult became a wonderful treat for Mr E and I.

At $1 a card, these bakelite buttons came home with me...


...and my big (beautiful) purchase was this $12 Royal Doulton cake plate.



Mr E truly does not 'get' why I love this sort of thing, but nevertheless he is happy they make me happy and never objects to wandering markets with me nor my choice of purchase.

I'm sure once I bake a cake and fill that plate with slices he'll appreciate it more. :-) 




I won't be blogging again until next Tuesday so I'll sign off today with these pics below.
This is another of my new patterns for the October issue of The Stitchery Club, "Sewing Tree"...







May your weekend be joyful, your Sabbath restful, and your heart refreshed in the days ahead.


Till next time,



21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, beautiful cake plate! What a delight to spend time together doing something like that wandering. I'm so excited for you and this second visit with another daughter. Have a terrific time, I know you will, and enjoy every moment. It's a gift to be able to live in the moment. Thank you for the peek at another gorgeous stitchery. This is such a delightful one, too.

Michelle Ridgway said...

I know you will cherish your family time. I adore your pocket money purchases x

Little Quiltsong said...

Beautiful post - and beautiful finds! That poem is so true! Enjoy your time with your daughter(s) and grandchildren. More special memories!

allthingzsewn said...

Beautiful buttons and plate. Would love to see the quote made into a embroidery patch.

Maria said...

Have a lovely time with your DD and GS... Love your purchases.

Stitches said...

I love your pocket money purchases, not only are they pretty, they are very useful and I know you will use them many times. I know how you must feel, waiting for the arrival of your daughter and child. I'm off today to help celebrate a grandson's wedding tomorrow. I will get to see all of my family, kids and grandkids and great grandkids! It will be a happy time for both of us, you and me! Enjoy your time..I love your embroiders, you do such lovely work..

Allie-oops Designs said...

Yes you'll need more energy with the little ones, lol - but oh the love and hugs!!! Quite priceless. So neat that you and Mr. E get to enjoy that together - love love love those buttons, can't find 'em for that price here! The plate is beautiful. Enjoy, dear one!!

mb4rwss said...

Beautiful pattern! Thank you for your words of wisdom.

Kathleen said...

That plate is SO you!!

Mary H said...

I love to purchase old buttons from flea markets, what treasures you can find, i love the cake plate, it looks like something you would stitch, I hope you have joyous visit with your other daughter and grandchild, your grandkids are adorable, cherish your time, and keep stitching.
Thank you for all the beautiful kind and thoughtful words of wisdom, i adore reading them.

Mary

Joanne said...

Gorgeous stitcheries Jenny!
I do love reading your blog posts! Inspiring and heat warming!
looking forward to winter here in The Netherlands when I can get stiching! There is a binder filling up with Gentle Domesticity!
Summer does have great light here but my enery is spent out in the garden!
Your October stichery club does look very tempting!

Take care,
Joanne

Tuppence said...

Jenny, cuanta razon tienes en el post de hoy, tenemos que disfrutar de los momentos diarios,felices y guardar esos buenos recuerdos.
Esas compras que has hecho me encantan,para nosotras que sabemos valorarlas son verdaderos tesoros..Que disfruteis estos dias la familia reunida ¡
Un beso. Nora

Petal49 said...

Jenny you do make my life a better place with your gentle words of wisdom. I love your purchases and have a wonderful time with your family.

Createology said...

I see the beauty and desires in your purchases. I know you will enjoy every minute with your daughter and grandson. While making even more wonderful memories. May your health hold strong dear. October Stitchery designs are going to be amazing. Thank you for honoring the simple things in life.

Clare said...

What a lovely sewing tree. Happy Stitching.

MissesStitches said...

I especially liked your first section today, Jenny. A Canadian friend of mine says "Get down on your knees and thank God that you can get back up!"

Águeda said...

Dear Jenny:
I am happy to see that her daughters visit and you and your husband spend quiet days with the family.
I agree with you: I sometimes lose my time suffering so come and lose good today. Sometimes I can not help that. What is right is to enjoy every moment and the little things.
How beautiful is your family. How many good people descended from you! Thanks for sharing your beautiful moments and your art with us. I thank you very much. I wish you to have wonderful days. Hugs.

Mimi said...

Dear Jenny. I hope you have a lovely visit with your darlings. The buttons were a fine indeed! Mimi xxx

Martha Roberts said...

Beautiful post on your blog. Love the buttons, the gorgeous cake plate. And the daisies. Looking forward to your pics of Aisha and Austin and their visit. Enjoy your time together.

Sheryl said...

Gorgeous sewing tree.

Christina said...

Oh what great finds! LOVE the plate. Thank you for the gentle reminder.