Sewingseeds...thoughts from a grace filled life

Simple pleasures…

After our cold, wet winter and early spring, the heat is really on here in sunny Southern California.  We have already had a string of days in the 90’s.

 

It’s such a perfect time for one of my favorite warm weather simple pleasures…

 
 

Sun. Tea.

 
 

Seriously, does anything taste better on a hot day than a pretty glass of ice cold sun tea?  Add a few fresh strawberries and so refreshing…

Instant sunny, summertime memories.

 

Hope you’re having a sunny time, too.

 

I’m joining sweet Dayle again for Simple Pleasures and A Rosy Note for Photo Friday…

 

How cute is that...

 

I'm glad you stopped by for our virtual cup of coffee with a double shot of sunshine...If we were really meeting for coffee today I'd ask you how your Easter was and what you fixed for dinner.  I'd have a whole stack of pictures to share with you instead of just these few...

 
Okay, I admit it...

 

I.

am.

a.

shameless.

grandma.

 

There I said it...Can you blame me?

Have a wonderful Tuesday...

Patty

Happy Easter...

Wishing you peace this Holy Weekend...

 
"But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus.  As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them clothed in dazzling robes.

The women were terrified and bowed with their heads to the ground then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?  He isn't here!  He is risen from the dead!"  Luke 24:1-6

Easter Blessings,  Patty

cookies and chicken soup...

My sister-in-law stopped by to check in on me and drop off these yummy cookies and chicken soup.  It couldn't have come at a more perfect time.  My staple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches was growing a bit old (thank you hubby) and the fresh meal was a welcome change.

 

My recovery time in our old, brown leather recliner left me a lot of time to sit and reflect...about the things that I just had to do...about what I wasn't accomplishing while recuperating in my chair...lamenting over who was going to cook dinner, straighten the house, do the grocery shopping or throw in a load of towels...Somewhere in the midst of all this self imposed angst was a lesson...the good in the lousy, the lemonade from the lemons. 

 

These things, while they do need to get done, don't need to get done by me...my way and in my timing. 

Cue the light bulb! 

While I'm glad to be feeling better and happy to be able to help out some, if I learned anything this past week, it's that my family is fully cable of taking care of themselves and me, if needed.

 

With that realization fresh in my mind, my Multitudes on Mondays gratitude list for the week looks like this...

 

41.  Walks in the garden.

42.  My dog Bear.

43.  Chicken soup.

44.  Homemade cookies.

45.  Time to sit and reflect.

46.  Backs that heal.

47.  Springtime blooms.

48.  Jars of spaghetti sauce.

49.  My old leather recliner.

50.  Cool breezes. 

I hope you've taken a few minutes to reflect and thank God for your blessings this week.

 Patty

time to bloom...

I had the most wonderful birthday weekend.  My girlfriends took me out on Friday for a wonderful and generous birthday celebration.  Each gift held special meaning but the gift of their friendship, encouragement and accountability is truly a treasure.

 

On Saturday my family got together at a delicious steakhouse for another evening of celebration.  It is such a testament to my parents that all of their children still hold love and affection for one another as we all do.  I have officially joined what my brothers mercilessly teased is the 50's club...ouch.  There are five of us original siblings and just my little sis is left to join us in a couple of years.

 

Sunday morning our pastor (very appropriately) spoke on living life for Jesus alone not for the if only and why nots of life.  The perfect ending thought for my milestone weekend.  

 

This morning I looked in the mirror and everything is pretty much the same...no fewer wrinkles but no more either!

Most importantly, I feel good, am blessed with good health and family and friends who genuinely love me for better or worse.

 

The first 50 years were spent trying to get somewhere...these next 50 will be about enjoying the journey.   It is definitely my time to BLOOM!

My gratitude list for this week looks like this...

31.  Another year to live for Him.

32.  Friends who get me and still love me.

33.  Earthly parents who desire to give so generously.

34.  Siblings I love and enjoy.

35.  A husband who isn't afraid to work at this thing called marriage.

36.  Children who encourage me to slow down.

37.  Grandbabies who give me another chance to love sacrificially.

38.  The day off to pamper and reflect.

39.  The promise of joy in Jesus no matter what happens in life.

40.  A past full of His promises fulfilled.

 

Feeling especially blessed,  Patty

The photos are but a few of the beautiful gifts I received...it will take me quite a few posts to share them all. 

just breathe...

My mom mentioned that I live my list like a bucket list…trying to cram in as much as possible before I run out of time.

 
It was just an off handed remark but I realized she’s right and it really has me thinking about ways I can slow down and enjoy the whole process of living life to the full without all my self imposed deadlines and expectations. 

 
I work a full time job outside of my home so I really want to learn to enjoy my down time…to learn how to just…breathe. 

 

 I’ve been so blessed…I don’t want to squander anymore time missing the joy God intended for me.

Slowing down and enjoying life…truly a simple pleasure.

 Blessings, Patty

more blessings...

It's finally starting to feel like spring and that means more time in the garden.  I spent most of Saturday cleaning up the remainder of the main front perennial bed.  It always amazes me how many weeds can live under that thick layer of leaves.  Weeding a large area can be a little overwhelming for me (not to mention discouraging) so I usually break it off into smaller areas at a time.  I weed a little area, turnover the soil, add some fertilizer and then plant a few new plants.  This gives me a little joy with the necessary maintenence.

 
This is the third year for this particular bed.  When we purchased the house there was a very a large tree that provided a lot of shade so the bed was mostly ferns, azaleas, camellias and moss.  Unfortunately, the tree was bent over and leaning into the house so we made the difficult decision to have it removed.  As blessings would have it, I was left with a very large, very empty sun filled border.

 
Most of what you see are all returning plants.  I picked up a couple of one gallon delphiniums from my local nursery for $2.99.  I'm kicking myself for not buying more so there may be a quick stop on my way home from work tonight.  (Emphasis on quick..ha, ha!)

 

I hope you had a chance to get outside some this weekend and play.  There's nothing like a little sunshine to lift the spirits.

My blessings this Monday morning...

24.  Beautiful garden centers.

25.  Beautiful thoughts from those I love.

26.  Thomas the tank engine eyes.

27.  Meatloaf on Sunday.

28.  Homemade rolls.

29.  Chatting on the phone.

30.  Kisses.

Have a bless filled week.

 

Monday's blessings...

Our gentle spring rain has turned into a nasty winter wallop...

As if I don't already have enough to worry about (yes, I know that I'm not supposed to worry, it's an ongoing issue with me and God) now I'm worried about my new little veggies that I have been watering ever so gently.  All this heavy rain surely can't be good for them. 

 

I don't think I'd have made a very good farmer...between willing them to grow every single day since the seeds went into the ground (I'm sure the neighbors think I've lost my mind as I stare at the dirt inspecting it for any evidence of green life)...

to lamenting over what I could have done wrong with the ones that have yet to make an appearance...

and now all this darn rain...I've tried to think of a way to prop an umbrella up over them but that would just be plain ridiculous...right?

 

According to the calendar, spring has arrived but this cold snap would seem to beg to differ. 

Soon enough the weather will warm, the flowers will bloom and the desire to drink ice tea and lemonade will return...until then I still have so much to be thankful for.

My list of gratitude and thanksgiving this Monday...

11.  A safe drive into work.

12.  The smell of coffee in the morning.

13.  Banana nut bread.

14.  My morning call to my mom.

15.  Movie night with my daughters.

16.  Watching Emily watch the air popper pop the corn.

17.  The smell of just shampooed kid hair.

18.  Warm water for dirty dishes.

19.  Family Sunday dinners.

20.  Silly faces.

21.  A child's belly laugh.

22.  Safe arrivals home.

23.  New walkers.

I purchased myself a little spiral notepad for in my purse.  Now as God gives me the blessing...it goes right into my book.  It's such a nice, tangible reminder of my everyday gratitude.

Have a wonderful week!

I'm linking up to Multitude Mondays...

 

 

I'm so excited...

Happy Monday...yes, you heard right.  Happy Monday! 

What a perfect day of the week to count my blessings.  There's nothing that changes a Monday morning attitude better than taking a moment to focus on the positive...acknowledging what is right in my life and what I have to be thankful for.

 

The I'm so excited part?  My dear hubby took me birthday present shopping a month early!  This is the biggy so it called for a big, extravagant present.  I did my research and chose...

drum roll please...

a new Nikon D90 camera!

 

I have not clue one how to use it other than to put it on Auto, point and shoot but

I. LOVE. IT.

Expect to see lots of pictures of the same fruit while I learn to go manual...

 

This beautiful bowl was a garage sale find that my sweet mom gifted me with.  She actually found two pieces of this beautiful "Georgian" pattern for a couple of dollars.  Both pieces are numbered twice; one is fired in and the other appears to be a stamp.  There is one small chip in this one (of course in my excitement of using the camera I left the crack in the front...sheesh) but the smaller bowl is in perfect condition!

 

Now onto counting my blessings and my multitudes on monday list...

#4    Fresh fruit to take pictures of.

#5    A library card.

#6    A mom who thinks of me.

#7    New seedlings in the garden.

#8    Jobs that pay the bills.

#9    A Father who hears my prayers.

#10   People who love me.

 

I challenge you to come up with your own list today. 

I guarantee an attitude adjustment. Have a wonderful week.