How Sweet The Sound

Bunnies In The House

I just thought I would share a few of the bunnies that are visiting us to celebrate Easter.  You know how bunnies are, and they seem to have multiplied all around the house.

These two bunnies have relaxed next to a bowl and pitcher on our dining room table.  The bowl and pitcher belonged to my great-great aunt, and it was passed on to my parents when they got married.  The basket is something I picked up at a yard sale, and it is occupied by a handkerchief bunny given to me years ago by a friend.  The basket has become a bit of a joke at our house this year.  I haven't been thrilled with the way it looked anywhere I've placed it, so it keeps getting moved to different places.  I believe it is finally settled here for this Easter.

I picked up this little Fitz and Floyd bunny dish about twenty-five years ago.  She is a real sweetheart, and I believe she is happy visiting with the birds during this season.  I have not given her a name, but with the lovely ribbon and flowers she wears, I'm sure she deserves an equally lovely name.

The decanter set is Mary Gregory glass, and I purchased it at an antique show in Fort Lauderdale many years ago.  I have always appreciated Mary Gregory glass, even though these are the only pieces I have.  Are you familiar with Mary Gregory?  She was an American glass painter that worked with the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company in Cape Cod in the 1880s.  She is credited with helping to popularize glass painting.  Although Mary Gregory's name has been associated with this style of painting, some believe that most of the pieces cannot actually be credited to her.  This set is definitely included on the list of my favorite things.

The four Hummel birds and the Italian made plate belong to my mother.

This bunny momma is taking her babies out for a stroll in the fresh spring air.  And, look just how many bunny babies there are.  Even though she has carefully placed each one in the bunny buggy, I feel certain she stays quite busy being the momma of so many.

The chest they are on is an old spool chest that belonged to one of my great-aunts.  It has been refinished, and we use it as a silver chest.

And, here is our Easter tree which is currently "growing" on the server in our dining room.  The small Easter figures are made by Department 56, and they have been releasing one each Easter since about 1990. The pitcher and glass set belonged to my grandmother.  The vase and candy dish were wedding gifts my parents received.

I hope you enjoyed visiting the Easter bunnies in our dining room.  I will try to post some more pictures of our holiday visitors later this week.  They have almost taken over our home.

Be on the lookout for Peter Cottontail.  I've heard that he is really getting around this year.  You never know when he might hop up to your front door.

What A Pleasant Surprise

I finished reading The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs, and I think pleasantly surprised is my best description.

Again, this was a monthly book selection by our Two Peas Old Timer's on-line book group.  My buddy, Dawn, chose this book.  I don't mind admitting that this is not a book I would have chosen, but that is the reason I have so enjoyed our reading group.  Most of the selections have taken me out of my reading comfort zone, and with the exception of one month, I have enjoyed each book.

I was not at all surprised that Dawn would choose this book because, you see, she is a knitter.  And, quite a gifted one at that.  I have even been the fortunate recipient of her talent being gifted with a beautiful felted basket and a gorgeous scarf.  And, naturally both were in a shade of pink.

This is a first published novel by the author, and I believe she has a future as a storyteller.  I understand that there is a movie being made based on the book that may star Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts - two of my favorite actresses.

It really took me a while to become engrossed in this read, but I am one of those people that feel obligated to finish what they start.  I'm not sure exactly where the story grabbed me but it was in the first one hundred pages.  The wonderful part is that when it did grab me, it really had me.

This story is a true celebration of friendships among women.  And, we all know how much our girlfriends mean to us.  And, trust me, you don't have to be a knitter to enjoy this book.  I, being alienated to needles of any type, am the perfect example.  I hope you take a chance with this book.  Hang in there because the love shared by the characters is inspirational.

Recognizing Answered Prayers

Kahlil Gibran in The Prophet wrote:

You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.

May we all recognize all of our answered prayers, and remember to pray in thanksgiving.

My heart and life are filled with blessings.

Pomegranates

A few years ago I had the "brilliant" idea that our kitchen island needed to be painted.  Our kitchen cabinets are all wood - they are fine, but I wanted some pizazz.  And, painting the island was the perfect solution.  The island has a butcher block top, and painting the cabinet portion was, as I have already stated, a "brilliant" idea.

Step one toward putting the "brilliant" idea in place was to call our painter.  Step two was to pick out a paint color.  And, of course, me being the thoughtful wife that I am, I asked my husband's opinion.  I mean it really was just a token request because I already had picked out the color I knew was perfect - Raspberry.  Oh, what a beautiful paint color it was.  But, for some reason unbeknown to me, my husband - the one who always likes exactly what I like - hated the color.  He liked the color right next to my color choice on the selection chart.  Who knew that he could possibly think his color was so preferable to mine?  Well, the island has been painted for several years now, and he loves the way it looks.  I'll bet you could never guess which color actually got used.  Here's a hint - the name has the word berry in it.  And, he never knew the difference.  Lesson learned - aren't husbands wonderful?!

A few more steps into the process, and it was time to find the perfect thing to place on the island.  I went through all of my usual steps to find the perfect item (which includes looking at every source I could imagine), but to no avail.  I'm telling you that I have this major character flaw when it comes to finding the perfect items.  Do you think I may be too picky?  I believe it could more accurately be described as recognizing perfection when I see it.

On one of our getaways, we visited historic downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina.  If you ever have the chance to visit, jump.  The downtown is a National Historic site, and to say it is absolutely charming would fall way short of capturing its essence.  There is one store after another filled with unusual finds.  Toward the end of our day visit, we went in this wonderful store at the end of an alley.  And, what appeared before me but the perfect item to place on our island.  Oh my gosh, it was perfect.  I rushed to get my husband so he could behold the perfect item.

Then the unbelievable occurred.  He didn't love the perfect item.  I'm telling you that this wonderful husband of mine always likes what I like.  And yet, there he was standing beside me not loving the perfect item.  What was going on with this man?  That was twice now that he did not like something I loved.  Twice in over thirty years!  Strange I'm telling you, just plain strange.  And then an even more strange thing took place.  I listened to him, and left that store without the perfect item.

Well, life goes on, and we returned home from our oh so nice autumn getaway.  We had enjoyed our trip so much that we made reservations for the following spring so we could take our family.

And for all of those months, I mourned the perfect item.  I continued to look, but nothing measured up to the perfect item.  Then spring came, and we returned for another getaway.  We took our family to visit the charming town, and I even went in the wonderful store.

I bet you can guess what comes next.  There, right before my eyes, sat the perfect item.  I scooped it up, carried it to the car, smiled at my husband, and assured him that he was going to love it.

Here it is.  My pomegranates.  I told you it was perfect.  And, I know that you love it, too.  Just go ahead.  Go ahead and admit it.  After all, I told you so.

Pomegranates are definitely one of God's more beautiful creations.  My poor husband had just not been privy to all the wonders of pomegranates.  Now he even enjoys pomegranate juice.  I must be such a wonderful wife to expose him to all the joys in life.

It's That Time Again

Are you ready for some "basketball"?  Here we go!  Time for the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - The Big Dance.  The participating teams have been chosen.  The brackets are complete.

And, so there won't be any question or doubt, we're pulling for our Duke University Blue Devils.  Best of luck to a team of awesome young men.

So, fill out your brackets and get ready for game- after-game of exciting, sit on the edge of your seat basketball.  Lack of sleep around our home is a common thing this time of year. 

Does it get any better than this?

Go, Devils, Go!!!

Amazing Grace

Given the title to my blog, it shouldn't come as a surprise to learn that Amazing Grace is my favorite song.  And, I won't even qualify it by saying it is my favorite hymn.  It is my favorite song above any other.

Amazing Grace has been performed by numerous artists, but my favorite rendition is by Judy Collins.  I can't think of ever hearing the words that I wasn't deeply moved.  The words to this song carry a deep spiritual meaning to me, and just hearing them can bring peace to my soul.  I am currently participating in a circle journal group, and my journal topic is Amazing Grace.  I am anxious to receive my journal after completing the full circle so that I can read each participant's interpretation.  I even have the music and words framed and hanging in my dining room.

Do you know the story of Amazing Grace?  The words were written in 1772 by John Newton of England.  He used the words in one of his sermons in which he reflected on his own conversion during earlier years while working on a slave trading ship.  Following are the words written by John Newton:

"Amazing Grace"

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­i­ver, 1779

Harriet Beecher Stowe included another verse in her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.  This verse which is credited to John Rees has become quite popular and is as follows:

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.

Meet Theodore

Theodore The Rabbit.  He is one of two rabbits we have in our yard.  Neither one is a live rabbit, but please don't tell them.  Theodore believes he is real.  After all, people talk to him.  Isn't that a sign of being alive?

You might not know this about me, but I have a tendency to name special things in our yard and house.  Not everything mind you, but just very special items.  I have a bear in my bedroom that has a name, a statue in our front yard has a name, of course, there's Theodore.

Theodore is very strong, healthy, and oh so very wise.  He endures all kinds of weather, but the most interesting thing about him is that he sees all and knows all.  He keeps an eye on all the squirrels that come around, and he "tries" to discourage them from eating our plants (but mostly to no avail).  Theodore is also a friend to visiting birds.  They must like him because he manages to have not been the recipient to little things they "drop" behind.

I am most enamored with Theodore.  Don't you think he is quite a handsome fellow?  He can be unbelievably charming.  And, he always helps our little guy find hidden Easter eggs.

My Pin Pillow

What do you do when you have a few favorite pins that you would like to display?   I had a few pins that I had received as gifts when I was a child, so one day I took a notion to pin them to a pillow I had on our bed.

Well, before you know it this pillow had become a conversation piece, and friends and family started bringing me pins to add to the "pin pillow".  Of course, I gladly accepted the pins, and I added each one to the pillow.

The pillow nows wears pins that belonged to each of my grandmothers, great-aunts, aunts, cousins and friends.  And, it also wears pins that have been purchased as gifts for me, and some that have been made for me.

The nice thing is that each of the pins has a special story and memory.  There is the pin that I received when I was seven years old and sick in the hospital.  My Brownie pins have a place of honor.  Then there is the "Jesus Saves" pin that my mother got when she was a little girl attending Sunday School.  There is the amethyst pin that my father bought for my mother when he was away in the military, and the Beta Club pin my husband earned in high school.  One of my favorites is the cameo Three Muses pin my husband bought for me when we were at an antique show.  The small American flag pin is one that was given following September 11, and the violet pin was a gift from my best friend in honor of our love for violets.

But, more news.  This pin pillow has a sequel.  I developed such a fondness for butterfly pins, that I now have a pillow featuring butterflies.  I'll show you that one another day.

Easter Bunnies Welcome Here

 

Easter preparations are going on behind this door. 

 

 

My favorite season is Spring for so many reasons.  I feel a spiritual renewal with Easter and all that it represents.  It is a time of rebirth for all living things.  God has given us so many blessings.

I love the colors of green that begin to surround us as leaves begin to return to the trees, and as bulbs begin to spring from their winter retreat.

And, all of the beautiful blooms that occur.  The ever present and faithful dogwood, and the bright colors of the daffodils.  Oh, and the breathtaking hues of all of the azaleas - all shades of pinks, corals, lavenders and whites.

Today on my way to work I not only saw daffodils blooming, but additionally there were blooming pear trees, tulip trees, pansies and many others.  I make a point of taking different routes to work so that I can enjoy beautiful views each day.

I love Easter bunnies, and young children dressed in their new outfits.  I love Easter baskets and Easter egg hunts.  And, of course, chocolate bunnies.

When I was growing up we always had a special dinner for Easter.  My mother always baked a ham, and she served it with many other delicious dishes.  Now, I so enjoy preparing Easter dinner for our family, and everyone finds a special treat at their place at the table.

So, if you come to our front door, be assured that Easter bunnies are welcome.  Please come with love in your heart, and be careful not to step on any Easter eggs that may be hiding in our yard.

 

 

The Old Oak Hall Tree

This hall tree belonged to my husband's great-grandmother.  We inherited it (and the history) about thirty years ago.

You see, when we were given this hall tree it had no arms.  The story is that great-grandmother told great-grandfather that she needed wood for her stove.  Well, evidently great-grandfather didn't act quickly enough for great-grandmother, so she chopped off the arms and used them to fuel her fire.  She must have been one feisty lady, and I believe it would have been wise to always respond promptly to her requests.  Lesson learned, do whatever is requested of you by any lady that has access to sharp objects that can be used for chopping.

So you see, we love this piece, and we hired a furniture maker to fashion appropriately styled arms to add back to the hall tree.  I am happy to report that it has been quite happy ever since receiving its new arms.  Fortunately, we have an electric stove, and all I have to do to heat it is turn it on.  All of my respect goes to the resourceful woman that did whatever it took to care for her family.  She lived to be eighty-eight years old.

The hall tree now lives in our foyer, and I attempt to dress "her" for the season.  Here she is decked out with her spring and summer bonnets, and her seat is being utilized by a few of our resident bunnies.