Where I've Been, Where I Am

A few days ago, my sweet mama had back surgery and, because our family is loaded with drama queens ;-), managed to squeeze an unscheduled 2nd surgery in there thanks to a blood clot.  Thankfully, she's recovering well and in rehab for a few weeks.

  I've slept, pretzel-like, in a hospital recliner a couple of nights this week, so my lovely bed at home was even lovelier last night.  It's nice to sit in my own (comfy) recliner with Katniss biting my finger purring contentedly. 

It's been a strange summer.  Weather more like the northwest than the southeast. Big questions at church. Friends in crisis.  Major surgeries.  Budget envelopes.  Other than three days when I stared out at the ocean and generated no serious thoughts at all, I can't say I've rested.

I admit I am longing for rest.

I'm longing for wisdom and a refreshed body and spirit.

Be blessed,
Ginger

Mail Call

I love mail!

Not junk mail or bills.

Just the good stuff, like little envelopes with loopy handwriting or brown paper packages tied up with string.

These are a few of my favorite things.

Over at Wifessionals, Kaitlyn has a love for the same things, and she did something about it.  She set up a Cara Box exchange, a way for bloggers to get to know one another and send each other real mail.

This month, I met Semirah at Sound of Charm and Chelsey at The Fair Fox.  

Chelsey sent me a box, and I sent one to Semirah.  It has been fun to read these young ladies' blogs.  Being the -ahem-oldest of our group, I admit I feel a bit motherly towards both of them!

Monday afternoon, the UPS man (one of my favorite people--whoever he happens to be--since my Creative Memories days) arrived:

(Packing peanuts build anticipation.)

This month's box theme was "At the Fair", and Chelsey did a remarkable job of finding theme-y things that suited me perfectly!

1. A yummy-smelling candle that DD#2 sweetly suggested should be hers

2. Pretty striped journal

3. Popcorn and these fun containers

4. I love this Aladdin cup and plan to go looking for more; it's double-walled plastic but with a fun country look.

5.  Isn't this great?  Jesus is the only "ticket" to Heaven and abundant life here.

6 & 7. I'm amazed at this necklace and earrings set because it looks exactly like something I'd choose for myself!  So fun and summery!

Because of the 4th of July holiday, today is the last day to sign up to participate in July's Cara Box exchange.  I definitely plan to do it again.  The new theme is "nautical".  Umm... wheels are turning!  Any suggestions?

Any other package lovers out there?

Be blessed,

Ginger

Hello, Monday: Summer Speeding By So Fast It's Already Tuesday

Somebody throw on the brakes, will ya?

 

This super-short summer (seriously, nearly a month shorter than last year courtesy a change in the school calendar) is whizzing by at break-neck speed.

In fact, I meant to post this yesterday, but I got sidelined by a back pain flare-up and never got my blogging mojo.  

Today, I'm counting on prayer and Motrin to keep the pain at bay and let me get some projects done.

Today's shout-outs:

Hello, blooms!  I'm excited you're arriving one by one!

This zinnia is "volunteer" from last year.

It has NINE buds on it.

Hello, homemade laundry detergent--whole post about you coming soon!

Hello, lemon thyme (and rosemary-'cause rosemary makes lots of things better) bread; recipe coming soon.

Hello, basil and blackberries and buds on the squash plants. 

The freezer's empty from last year's crop and it's time for some replacements!

Hello, spray paint. 

 

 I'm nervous about using you today because of the clouds forming, but I'm looking forward to putting you to work on my porch.

Hello, laundry room redo.  Long overdue.  Somebody help me pick out fabric.

Hello, fun mail!  Watch for the big reveal soon!

Hello, No Other Gods Bible Study.  Wow.  You're timely. 

 What's on tap on your Monday Tuesday?

Be blessed, 

 Ginger

Summer Spruce Up Linky: Planted

On this gorgeous summer day, I'm linking up at Better with Age to show off some of Big Red's gardening guru-ness. (guruosity? I make up words for alliterative purposes.)  

Big Red is on a mission to find unique planters.    I have to guard things I don't want filled with flowers, or he will drill holes in them and stuff them full of geraniums.  

Today's tour: the deck.  After a cool, wet May, we didn't get our bedding plants started before school was out, so things still look a bit sparse.  In a few weeks, they'll be lush and gorgeous.

 This washtub was my grandmother's.

  

Instead of dirty socks, now it holds dragonwing begonias and some sort of unidentified trailing greenery. 

The deluxe-version double washtub came with our house. 

 It holds perennial, bad-to-the-bone purple veronica, vinca, verbena, coleus, and petunias.  

Big Red used his mad bargaining skilz to acquire this wooden barrel. 

 (Purple flower: haven't got a clue.)

Gerber daisies love this spot of our house.  The concrete planters were on my grandmother's steps.

 This old bucket held everything from snap beans to bubbly car-washing water when I was growing up.  It's dented because, ahem, we have a 16-year old driver around our house. 

I'm blessed to have a husband with a green thumb!  It's a pleasure to look out the window or come up the driveway to a yard full of special objects and beautiful blooms.  

Garden designer: Big Red

Garden producer: God 

Be blessed today,

Ginger

Happy, Happy, Happy

 My happy place...

 

...just got happier!

(Rustoleum Ultra Cover in Aqua)

Be blessed, 

Ginger

Hello Monday: Of Birthdays, Beaches, and Brownie Batter Pancakes

Hi, Y'all.

Didn't intend to disappear for the week; in fact, I find myself with so many potential blog posts that I might have to make myself a list so I remember them all.

Gasp.

We slipped away to the shore for a few days and discovered there was no wi-fi.

Double-gasp.

It was, as DD#1 declared, probably a conspiracy to enhance family bonding.

Undoubtedly.

We had lots of family bonding and lots of sitting around doing nothing.  

I realized sometime Friday that, other than Bible study (which was definitely thought-provoking), I'd not thought about anything important (truthfully, not anything at all) for three days.  

Quite lovely.

So now it's back to real life and lots of things to think about, not the least of which is that today is DD#2's birthday.  

I now have two in high school.

In other news, I got my hair colored for the first time two weeks ago.  

It's possible those events are related.

Now that's she's 14, she wants things low-key.  Time with a friend later this week, but today, a favorite meal and 

brownie batter pancakes for breakfast.

(Chocolate for breakfast.  That's my girl.)

via Chocolate Covered Katie

These are the moderately healthy pancakes floating around Pinterest for a while.  I'll let you know if  they're as good as they look.

Be blessed,

Ginger

Hidden

Look closely...

Peer around the geraniums...

 

and you'll spot a metal watering can. 

 

Last summer, it was full of flowers as well, but this year it's pre-occupied.

Come in a little closer (and ignore the dirty window.)

 

See the straw?

A busy mama and daddy have found the perfect hiding place for their little family.

It's under the eaves, buried deep in the can, out of the sun and rain.

She sits on the edge of the flower tub,

flies to the edge of the watering can,

looks around to see if the coast is clear.

(You can almost hear her thoughts- innocently whistling "La-dee-da, just ignore me.  No nest over here; nope, not a nest in sight...la-dee-da.")

Down she goes.

Now back up. 
 

Make sure no one's watching.

Be blessed today,

(It's the little things.)

Ginger