July Activites

July has been a busy month so far. It occurred to me, I completely dropped the ball on my June Prompts so I went to take a look at the ones I hadn't used. I picked the following, for June 30th, to do today.

Describe an activity that reminds you of your childhood summers.

My childhood summers were filled with so many activities, but one I loved back then and still love today was shopping at yard sales. There was something exciting about piling into mom's car, heading down the road watching for signs, and quickly pulling into a parking spot. We all had some spending money and would begin searching the tables for a special treasure to take home. You never knew what you would find. A new book, a pretty doll, a board game, a cassette tape. Sometimes I'd find a new piece of clothing. Well, new to me and that was fun! I remember getting a Beatles cassette and mom discovering a song that was not appropriate, so she made me tape over that section with something else. I still get the same feeling of excitement when I spot a yard sale sign. 

So, that's my take on the June 30th prompt. It was written in 5 minutes without editing. I'm not even allowing myself the luxury of checking for spelling and punctuation errors. So there it is, though I really wanted to change those last two lines. They just didn't read well to me. That's part of the challenge, to just write.

This particular prompt fit with my most recent activity. We got our yard sale behind us and had a lot of fun doing it. We sold a lot of small items. My sister brought over some magazines and comic books which surprisingly sold very well. I neglected to take photos of the sale, except for a few items.

Cherished Teddy, Hannah

Tooth Fairy Box

Angel Box

Vintage Magazines

The best part of having the sale was visiting with the variety of people who stopped to shop. Each person was on the hunt for treasures. Some browsed with nothing particular in mind, just enjoying the process of seeing what jumped out at them. Others were on the search for a specific type of item. I was asked for Pyrex, video games, and Pokemon cards for example. The day was warm, but a nice breeze kept us from feeling the heat too much. It was a fun way to spend a day!

May Prompts #4

 And it continues... I am almost caught up on prompts. 

17. How has your writing life evolved in the past three months?

I have become more desciplined in the writing of morning pages, also called the sowing seeds of creativity. I have finally pulled out my book, dormant since 2013, and started to read through what I had and making notes for changes and additional story ideas. I have found a new confidence in my writing ideas and abilities. I have spent time on a few creative writing projects and prompts. I have done a few more blog posts. I feel my writing is moving in a positive direction, one that will bring fruit. One that will take me to my next level of writing. I credit this to the class on The Artist's Way which I signed up for through Grow Me a Story.

18. Write about a time when a wise woman made a difference in your life.

I can't bring one specific moment to mind. My mother and my grandmother both imparted so much wisdom and faith to me in very different ways. They are the women I would go to when I needed counsel, along with a couple of dear friends who were also will to listen and give thoughtful, compassionate advice. I don't choose to go into detail on any of this. I will say that finding a wise person who will listen with their heart, as well as their ears, and will thoughtfully speak from their heart is a priceless treasure. be they woman or man.

19. What is your favorite flower that blooms in May? Why?

I get excited by any flowers that bloom in May. Here in the Treasure Valley that can change from year to year depending on the changeable Idaho weather. Most Hyacinths and Tulips have bloomed and are gone by early May, as well as the Forsythia. My favorite of all the flowers is the Lilac and this year it is still in bloom! I love the purple color. I love the heady fragrance. The look of the delicate little blossons. They also remind me of my grandpa. He loved them too! He pruned our bushes into small trees and they were beautiful! I have a photo of him standing next to his last Lilac "tree". It was as tall as he was, and so beautiful. Lilacs are the flowers of happy memories and the early sign of a beautiful summer season to come.

20. Use the word "garden" as your prompt today.

Garden. I see grandpa out weeding, pruning, watering, harvesting. He was the gardener, as was his father. I am not a gardener. I can barely keep my houseplants alive. I do appreciate a lovely garden though. I have memories of rose gardens in parks in Caldwell, Nampa, and Boise, Idaho. My husband and I visited a rose garden on our honeymoon in Portland, Oregon. We also visited the Japanese garden while there. It was so serene and peaceful. I love a garden that is green and simple, with water features, rocks, sand, and statues. I also love a garden that is an explosion of color. It's like a party for the senses with all the different fragrances and the varying shapes and colors of the blossoms.

21. What was the last article or book you read that inspired you? Why was it inspiring?

Saturday, which happened to be the 21st, my sister brought me a very rough, beat up copy of the Amplified Bible with both Old and New Testaments. It had been gifted to her by our grandma after grandpa had passed away. She has now gifted it to me. It was originally given to our grandpa by his parents in 1965. I sat and thumbed through it, reading highlighted passages. It was inspiring, not just because of what the scriptures said, but because it had been held and marked and cherished by my grandpa. It is the second Bible of his I am privileged to own. Well loved books like this one are an inspiration. Something to treasure and to reread again and again.

22. What color caught your eye today, and why?

Blue. It started with noticing the beautiful blue sky when I opened the front door to get my Sunday paper. Blue is the color I chose for 2022. I was also wearing a blue Star Wars t-shirt. As I sat sipping my morning coffee, I realized how much blue is already in my home. A blue curtain at the kitchen window. A blue and white quilt hanging over our sliding glass doors. Different shades of blue from cobalt to a seafoam blue green. Little dog salt and pepper shakers; book covers like Harry Potter, a Vera mystery, and more; a dark blue Old Navy metal cup I use as a pencil and pen holder; the blue pen I an writing with. Blue all around, and more to come as it's my current favorite color!

#growmeastory

© 23MAY2022 ajjahner

May Writing Prompts

The course I am taking through Grow Me A Story has given a list of writing prompts for the month of May. I finally got around to getting some of them done. These are just thoughts on the prompt, written in 5 minutes. You take the prompt for the day, set a timer, and just write whatever comes to mind. Here are the first few I've done. These are typed just as I wrote them, without editing.

May 1. Use the word "bloom" as your prompt today.

The word bloom makes me think of my mom. One of her favorite sayings was "Bloom where you are planted". Easier said than done sometimes. I'm currently in a rocky place. To bloom seems difficult, but it is not impossible. If roots are planted deeply enough, then water and nourishment will be found, and as they are found, I will flourish and eventually blooms will appear. Bloom is a word of hope. Of coming to fruition. Of life and of beauty. As I look out into my yard, I see all the beautiful blooms that came from plants and trees which had lain dormant during the long winter months. Then came the season to bloom, to shine! That time is coming for me, as a writer and as a person.

May 2. Write about a time you went on a picnic.

Picnics bring to mind my mom. We went on a lot of picnics when I was young. To the parks, to the hills, to Lucky Peak or Robie Creek. I remember one picnic when I was about 6 years old. It was at Lucky Peak. Mom spread a blanket over the hot sand, near the water. We had hot dogs on white bread. The ketchup oozed through the thin Wonder Bread, but the hot dogs were delicious! We had glass bottles of soda, bags of chips, and I think there was watermelon. Mom sat in her cutoffs and button-up shirt tied at her waist, dark sun glasses. We played in the sand and in the water! It was a perfect day!

May 3. Imagine your perfect summer day and describe it using your senses.

Summer is not my favorite season, but there have been some wonderful summer days. My perfect summer day would be sunny, but not too hot. About 68 to 72 degrees, a slight breeze keeping the air moving. The scent of roses and other summer flowers in the air. It would be walking barefoot in the soft grass or on a beach. It would be a trip to the park with a picnic lunch and then a visit to the zoo. It would be stopping for an icee, a snow cone, or an ice cream cone. It would be taking the slow way home and going off plan to drive wherever the road takes me, radio playing, hair blowing in the wind from my open window. All of these or any one of these!

May 4. Describe your plan for your summer writing.

I don't really have a plan. I've been advised to just write. To let words flow onto paper. To just get something written down. That is what I plan to do. I also plan to put more family stories onto "paper". To get the memories down for my sons to have to to enjoy. I also plan to revisit the books I started. To read them again. To add some content to them. To share them with someone who will look at them with fresh eyes. To accept criticism. To allow myself the time and the commitment to just write freely and without restricting my thoughts. Write. Write. Write. That is my only plan.

May 5. Use the word "growth" as your prompt today.

Growth. To change. To stretch. To bloom. To reach a new stature or a new place. To achieve a new goal. I am pushing to achieve new growth in my writing this year. Working through the class and the prompts from Grow Me A Story. It has enlarged my borders. It has created the "fertile ground" for my growth to begin to take off. I can feel the changes in how I am approaching not just writing, but in other areas of my life. Growth means health. When we're not growing, we are not really living. We are stagnant. Growth requires nourishment, fresh air, sunshine, and care. That's what growth in my creative life requires.

May 6. Describe the best and worst things that happened this week.

This one is hard. I suppose the worst thing is this miserable cough that keeps hanging on. Being sick has kept me from doing things around the house I wanted to get done. It has kept me from my Morning Pages and other creative work. The best thing is I finally saw my doctor. Started on antibiotics and meds and now am feeling better. I'm back to my Morning Pages. I've had a surge of creative energy just this morning. We've also had more rain, my lilacs are beginning to bloom. There is always good alongside any bad. Look for the good in life. It is there for the taking.

May 7. Identify an obstacle to enjoying your summer. What can you do about it?

I am the obstacle. My cough, my weakness, my overall poor health. My fear of leaving my house and the fear of having anyone visit me because of all the clutter. My dislike of summer heat and how it makes me feel. I can work to improve my health. Follow doctor's orders. Keep exercising and increasing my strength levels. Start leaving the comfort of my house a little at a time, beginning with small outings. Get my house in order so I won't feel shame when a friend comes by. And, work on ignoring my own mess and enjoying the fact that there is a wonderful friend here to visit with me in my own home. Lose the personal judgement I put on myself!

8.Describe a favorite memory of your mother or a mother figure from your childhood.

My mother. There are so many memories to choose from. The same with my grandma, the mother who raised me. For mom it's yard sales, long drives, picking asparagus from the side of the road, listening to the radio, spur of the moment ideas like knocking down her old fence with the help of her Volkwagen Bug. Laughter! For grandma it's singing and learning to harmonize. Hanging laundry together. Hearing her pray while she was cleaning or just walking through the house. Playing checkers and Scrabble. Long walks up the field. Hearing her yodal! Hearing her laughter. Feeling her love. Feeling their love! Having the blessing of 2 mothers in my life. Both who loved me so deeply and so well! I have been blessed!

#growmeastory

© 09MAY2022 ajjahner

Small Miracles...

Just a short post. This has been quite a week leading up to my mom's birthday. I've had so many wonderful memories of her. A little project that got put on the back burner, first by me and then by my sis, was to find a reel to reel player to listen to mom's old tapes. Two days ago, my sister's partner surprised her with an old portable reel to reel player. The first tape she listened to had mom learning the guitar and singing one of our dad's favorite songs to sing, Keys to the Kingdom. Needless to say, we both did some crying and some laughing too. It's the small miracles that make life so amazing!

Conversations...

I've been without a car for the past two weeks, though why it matters I really can't say, I rarely leave the house anymore. I've been sitting here reflecting on conversations I've had on the telephone, and how thankful I am for that simple convenience. Today, I was able to talk to one of my best friends, my kindred spirit, Carol. She recently lost her mother. I haven't been able to get to a shop and find an appropriate card. The sympathy cards in my supply just didn't express what was in my heart, which was overflowing with sadness and love for her and her family. I lost my mom over 16 years ago, and I miss her just as much today as I did that first week. I just shed fewer tears now, though occasionally the tears still come.

Beautiful angel image, courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

We talked about moms, and loss, and the things you want to do as well as need to do, along with some general chitchat. I mentally reached for just the right comforting words to say, but they didn't come. Mind blank. Frozen. Hopefully the love came through.

Some I also talked to this week: my other best friend, DeAnn; my Uncle Burt; my dear friend Marjie, who was also my grandma's best friend; Aunt Beth, technically my husband's aunt, but totally adopted by me; my cousin, Elverta; my husband, phoning from the eclipse party in the mountains that I had to miss. There may have been others I'm not remembering right now, but it was a busy week on the phone.

Conversation is my favorite way of connecting with people. I do love social media like Facebook, I enjoy blogging and visiting the blogs of friends, email is also good, but better than all of these is conversation. Ideally, it would be done face to face, over a cup of coffee and perhaps a decadent dessert, but the telephone is the next best thing. It takes away from the isolation I've allowed my health to place me in. If you do nothing else this week, make time for your loved ones and your friends in whatever way you can, message, phone call, or visit. We benefit from interaction with others. It reminds us we are all in this world together. Let's make it a beautiful place to be.

© 25Aug2017 ajjahner

A Few Brief Thoughts...

I don't have a lot to share, but I wanted to list some random thoughts...

It's mom's birthday, as always I'm thinking of her and remembering her with love.

I'm enjoying having both sons here for spring break. They bring so much laughter and fun into our lives. They are each such a gift and blessing to me.

My hyacinths have blossomed. They always smell so sweet! Some of the tulips have bloomed as well.

Spent yesterday with my little sis. Out to breakfast, and on to the Antique Mall to purchase more family photos. Then we wandered, just looking at all the other fun things for sale. I bought a Kenyan hand carved stone egg for $4.00, just in time to add it to my Easter decorations.

We had a whopper of a thunderstorm yesterday. Rain pelted the house, then turned into hail for a bit, wind roared, lightening striking all around. March has been mild this year, but yesterday it was a lion!

I'm getting ready to watch an episode of The Voice which I recorded earlier. I've been avoiding all the news of the world. I just needed a little oasis of peace today. Music always soothes the soul.

Wishing you Peace, sprinkled with a huge dose of Joy!

Keeping the Memories...

My imagination has been such an active part of who I am. I'm fascinated by what may come. What could happen? What will happen? The past has always called to me as well. I've imagined hundreds of different lives and wondered what it would have been like to be one of those interesting women.

In recent years, I turned that imagination about the past into actual research about my own ancestors. It's been fulfilling and fun. There's still so much I haven't been able to uncover, so my search continues.

My home is filled with bits and pieces of memories. I've been reluctant to part with items which trigger such strong imagery and feelings, but I've done quite a bit of parting over the past year or two. Yesterday I began going through some boxes of things. Odd assortments of photographs, vintage valentines, jewelry, knickknacks... junk to many, treasure to me. I still find it hard to separate the memories and the imaginings from the items. Is this what triggers all other keepers of things? Those labeled hoarders. Those disdained by the very neat and tidy masses? Thankfully, for me, it's not food or animals, but it's a wild assortment of so many other things.

My mama saved my first grade artwork, my dresses, shoes, even books which were left behind when I was sent to live with grandma and grandpa. She tucked them away in old suitcases and boxes, saving them for a day when we could look at them together and share a laugh and a memory. I don't know why I'm saving her treasures. I'll never get to sit with her, holding one in my hand and say, "Remember when..." or hear her giggle over any of it. When I do hold one of these things, I am transported back in a way nothing else can do. I'm there again, and she is with me, and my world seems a little more complete.

© 26Jan2016 ajj

While Searching for Joy...

A new focus for this year, is to seek joy. I believe it can be found in all the moments of our lives. Joy isn't a mood, it's a state of being.

A little bit ago, the James Galway version of Somewhere Out There began to play. There was a time when any version of this song immediately reduced me to tears. It was a favorite of my mothers. She requested it to be sung by one of her grandchildren at her memorial service, but in the overwhelming planning of it, I forgot until some months later. After she passed, the song would evoke so much sadness I couldn't listen to it without weeping. I didn't see the joy in her choice. It took me a long time to realize it was mom's message of comfort to us, that she would still be "somewhere out there" and loving us just the same, as she always had. There's joy in believing that, in knowing her love crosses all barriers between her former life here and the new life she is now part of.

I'm still learning to look for the joy in every situation. It isn't always easy, but it can be found when we open our hearts and our minds to it.

As always, wishing you Joy!

© 17Jan2016 ajj

Visitation...

Today is my mom's birthday. I miss her most days, but even more on special days like today, because we usually spent time together celebrating.

An old, faded Polaroid of my mom, back in the 6o's. She was so pretty!

Those who don't believe in spirit visitation may want to stop reading now...

I was trying to get myself ready to go to church service, even though I didn't feel well. It's what my mom would have done. It didn't happen. Then I heard steps coming down the hallway, but all the doors were closed and nobody was in sight. Must be mom, I thought to myself, with a smile. Instead of pushing myself to go, I picked up my Bible, which belonged to my mother before it was mine.  There are still some notes she wrote during church services tucked inside it. I read a few scriptures she had notated. I thought about Biblical rules versus grace. Many things in my life have evolved over the years. My faith in God is still as strong, but I have less tolerance for extreme views and for condemnation of others. I believe in leaving judgement to God, living the best I know how, and loving others as unconditionally as my human mind can manage to do.

As I sat thinking about what I've been taught over the years. I thought about the mind-set many Christians have towards those who don't share their exact point of view. I said to myself, "I refuse to be mean and unforgiving." Suddenly the three-way light across the room, clicked and turned up a notch. For a moment the room was flooded with an extra bright light, then it went back to normal. I felt my mom in the room. My mom, who loved people and refused to judge them or their life choices. Mom, who taught me to love even the unloveable. All the way from stray cats and dogs, to homeless people on the streets, to those who were defined by others as sinners. No one was beyond deserving her love and understanding. There was never a "lost cause" anywhere she looked. Just love and forgiveness. That doesn't mean she wasn't tried on occasion. It doesn't mean it was always easy. It means she took the effort to love, to set aside anger and judgement, and to extend herself beyond what our human nature often does. She offered a smile and a hand up! I learned some of my best lessons from my mother. I was truly blessed to have her in my life, and I am still being blessed! Happy Birthday, mom!

© 22Mar2015 ajj

Christmas Traditions, and These are the Days of Our Lives...

I'm surprised Days of Our Lives has weathered the demise of the soap opera, but it's been around for a long time. It was mom's favorite. When I lived in Phoenix, before the advent of VCR's, mom had to work when the show aired. She convinced me to watch it for her and call her with the highlights once or twice a week. It was a connection with mom, and I became a fan of the show.

I haven't watched it for many years now, but while switching channels today, I inadvertently came across the end of todays episode. At Christmastime, they have a tradition on the show where they decorate the tree with special ornaments. The family members names are on each of the ornaments. It brought back a flood of memories of my mom, and made me think about the importance of traditions in families.

We still hang stockings by our fireplace, and every Christmas I have certain ornaments I love to decorate with, because it has become part of our holiday tradition. I have several given to me by my mom and my grandparents that are special to me, I have one with my dad's name written on it, some gathered over the years such as "Our First Christmas Together" which we purchased the year PJ and I were married, an angel given to me by my in-laws, ornaments I bought when our boys were born, and so many others. This year we had a tiny tree, and many of our ornaments are in storage, but I managed to put a lot of my favorites on our little tree. There's a special feeling I get from following our family traditions. I think they're important, and they definitely give me joy.  I hope each of you celebrated your holiday with traditions special to you, and I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Thoughts about Hoarding and about Letting Things Go...

I had pulled out a box of depression glass, I'd had stored in my garage, in preparation for a yard sale last month. Only a couple of pieces sold, so the rest went back into the box until another sale a week ago. I just finished rewrapping the leftover items to send to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and happened to look at the date on the newspaper I'd had them wrapped in. It was June of 2004, exactly a year after my mom had passed away. These items were from her home and had been packed away for most of the intervening years. I'd pulled them out one other time a few years back for a sale, but when nothing sold, placed them into the same box wrapped in the same newspapers and returned them to the garage. They hadn't been enjoyed by anyone for over 11 years. That's what happens when grief hits and you can't let go of things, or if you're just one of those people who hoards things thinking you will use them some day.  It's really a shame nobody has been able to enjoy the pieces all these years.

I was able to sell a few pieces in the sale last Saturday. From what was left, I selected two milkshake glasses I love and two small bowls, which match my dishes, and placed them in my china hutch. They are pieces I will use and enjoy. The remaining dishes are packed up for their trip to St. Vincent's. It's time for some other bargain hunter, like my mother was, to find them and take them home to cherish.

My 5K Walk...

I signed up for a 5K Walk, which was very optimistic of me, since I have barely been able to walk down the hallway in my home. I haven't even been walking to the mailbox, because I've been so weak and off-balance. This 5K was important to me though. It was to raise money for the NOCC, National Ovarian Cancer Commission, and I walked in memory of my mom and my niece. They were both taken from this life much too soon, mom at 65 and Lizzy at 17!

I was in the Virtual Walker category, since the actual walk was in Arlington, Texas, so I walked on my treadmill. I broke the walk into 5 parts, and the final leg was 22 minutes. It took me 108.51 minutes to walk a 5K, broken into those 5 parts over a 6 hour period. A 5K walk would have been a breeze a few years ago, but age and MS have changed many things I once did easily. Even so, sometimes it's important to push our boundaries. To challenge our limitations. I was completely prepared to accept it, if I was only able to walk a quarter mile or less. One important thing I've learned, during the past 14 years of living with Multiple Sclerosis, is to recognize when you've reached your limit. That's why I had to break the walk into parts. Each time I stopped, I didn't know if I'd be able to get back on the treadmill. I rested, drank lots of water, and began again.

I'm proud of raising money for this cause. I'm proud of pushing myself and making it to that virtual finish line. As I walked, I imagined mom and Lizzy cheering me on. I imagined a world where no one else would have to lose a mother, a daughter, a grandmother, a granddaughter, a sister, a wife, an aunt, or a niece to this deadly disease.

My Saturday...

I have had a somewhat productive Saturday. While my husband is at his favorite car show in Emmett, Idaho, I've been sorting through boxes of keepsakes and dividing them into keep, donate, or sell stacks.

In the background I've been listening to some Martha Stewart Christmas programs on Hulu. It's the perfect time of year to be creating handmade cards, ornaments and gifts, so they're done well before the holidays arrive. Right now Aretha Franklin is singing "Silent Night" and I can't help but think of mom, who would pull out Christmas movies every summer during the July heat.
"Sleep in Heavenly Peace" Oh my, nobody can sing it quite like Aretha!

MJ is off to a summer luau with friends. EJ is hanging around here and has offered to help me bake a batch of cookies to send to church camp, for the kids to enjoy this coming week.

I'm having a great Saturday. As Martha would say, it's a good thing!

Remembering mom...

Eleven years ago this afternoon, my mom left this life for the next, and I still miss her. The laughter, the conversations, the advice, just her presence. I have written about her many times, so this will be a brief remembrance.

Mom's "Glam" photo. She loved to dress up!

Mom loved a good joke. She loved country music, classics from the 40's and 50's, and a little rock n'roll from the 50's and 60's, especially Elvis. She was a yard sale fanatic, a great decorator, a bargain hunting queen! She loved her kids, her grand kids, her friends. She loved animals of all kinds, and was rarely without a pet in her home. She loved life and had a spirit of adventure. She is loved and missed.

Happy in her redecorated kitchen with her new Country Charm stove!

Mom holding me, and my aunt is in the background.

 Mom, sending you my love... today and always...

Another Year...

Today is my mom's birthday, and I'm surprised at how quickly another year has slipped away. Mom would have been 76, and has been gone almost 11 years. I still miss her, and yet she remains close in my thoughts and my heart. I love this photo of her, and thought I'd share it again. I originally shared it in this previous post... Two Years of Blogging

My Beautiful Mom...

Comfort Media...

When I'm cleaning, or doing little odd jobs around the house, I always turn to comfort media.  By that, I mean music, TV or movies which have a nostalgic feel to them.  Occasionally during the holidays, I tune into Days of Our Lives simply to see them decorate their tree.  The ornaments have each character's name on them, and they are placed on the tree during a big family party, including those of cast members who have long ago left the show or passed on.  I never watched soaps much but when I was living in Phoenix, before the days of the VCR, mom would have me watch her soaps for her.  She worked during the day and hated to miss them, so she'd call on the weekend and I'd fill her in on the antics of Marlena and Roman Brady, or what Grandma Alice Horton was up to.  I became a faithful viewer for a few years because of mom.

A lot of people dismiss soaps, as just so much fluff, naughtiness, and bad acting.  That doesn't bother me.  I watch them for the same reason I read comic book adventures as a child.  They were fun, imaginative, and quick.  They were for the days when I didn't want to dive into a Tom Sawyer or a Great Expectations.  It's the same reason I turn on easy listening music, or a light holiday musical, while doing my chores.  It takes my mind off the mundane tasks, without drawing me into something heavy or distracting.  So, it's time for me to tune into a classic movie and get back to my chores.  Until next time...

This free image is from My Vintage Studio.  Sharon has many wonderful images to share. 

© 11DEC2012 ajjahner

Welcome November!

It is an absolutely beautiful November day here!  There are still gorgeous leaves on the trees, lovely days and cold nights.  Perfection! While I enjoy the blessings of such a start to November, my heart goes out to those on the East Coast, who have had such devastation in their lives.  So while I give thanks for my blessings, prayers go out to those who are not as fortunate today.

This is a photo of Camel's Back Park in Boise, Idaho, taken by my husband with his cell phone.

What does November mean to you?  For me, it reminds me of happy family times.  The bounty of harvest; the raking and burning of leaves, after jumping in the piles, of course; the coziness of a fire in a fireplace; practicing for the Christmas piano recitals and Sunday School Programs with my lil sis; Grandma's deep dish apple cobbler; my birthday celebrations, with Mom bringing me a Date Nut Cake from the Royal Restaurant... so good;  Thanksgiving meals complete with Turkey and all the trimmings, football, board games, laughter... family.  November is about family.

The Art House Co-Op Mystery Project

I decided to do something fun and different.  I entered a Mystery Project Challenge through the Art House Co-op on Facebook.  They mailed me a card with a theme and a Prismacolor pen which had to be used in the challenge.  Other entries can be seen on their Facebook page by clicking Art House Co-op.

My theme was "Things and the people and places using them" and it had me stumped for a bit.  So I started going through some of my "things" and found a teacup of my grandma's (by the way, Happy Birthday Grandma!).  It was the inspiration for my project.

I chose Miss Tami's Restaurant/Cafe for my "places" because of the memories.  You can visit Miss Tami's on Facebook or go to the web page by clicking on Miss Tami's.  My mom and I loved going there.  It's a restaurant, tearoom and gift shoppe.  Miss Tami not only stocks collectibles of all kinds, there is jewelry, art work, stationery, books, and vintage items.  The gift shoppe area is smaller, as the tearoom/restaurant has expanded, but it is still filled with many lovely things.  Just a note... if you click on the photos, they should enlarge for better viewing.

This is Miss Tami's... Wouldn't you love to sit and have tea or lunch here?  So cozy!

So now, I had my "thing" and "place" for the challenge.  I looked through my collection of tea cups and found three favorites.  One was Grandma Martha's, one was my mom's, and I believe the other was Grandma Wait's.  I played around with different arrangements, taking photos of each, and I finally settled on one.  I printed the photo on to fabric, washed, dried, and ironed it.  Next I outlined areas with pencil to make them stand out, and used the green Prismacolor pen to highlight the leaves and shamrocks.  I mounted it onto poster board and matted it.  It was complete.

Just a few of the treasures to be found at Miss Tami's!

Thought you'd like a closer look...

The next part of the challenge was to take the artwork and install it in a public place.  I had to document the installation with a photograph, and post it onto the Art House Co-op Facebook page.  Then I was to leave the artwork for someone to find.  I put a short note of explanation on the back of the photo, with the instruction that it was free to the finder.

More treasures...

Heavenly....

And there it is!  My Teacup Photo!

I hope it makes someone smile.  It made me smile.  I had so much fun doing this project, and I can't wait to try a new challenge.  While I was in Miss Tami's, so many memories washed over me.  Not only of my mom, but of my dear friend Judy and her mother Ann.  After my mom died, Ann would take Judy and I out for our birthdays.  Ann and I had November birthdays and Judy's is in October.  Miss Tami's was one of the places we loved going to.  I hadn't been back to Miss Tami's since Ann passed.  Being there today just made my heart happy.  I enjoyed every minute of it!  I even found a picture during my visit, that had to come home with me.  A couple of delicious lemon shortbread cookies also found their way to my house!  It's been a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday Mom...

Dad & Mom. A bit worn, but a favorite of hers.

Another "whether" or not decision (see the NaBloPoMo link on my sidebar).  Today is my mom's birthday.  She would have been 74 this year, but passed away at 65.  In June, she will have been gone 9 years.  That's so hard to believe.  It took a long time for me to come to terms with her loss.  Longer than some thought was healthy, but my processing of change tends to be slow.  I've talked a lot about how her life and her loss impacted me, so the decision was whether to talk about it again.

Obviously, I decided to do it.  Those of you who have lost a parent will understand.  They remain imprinted into our psyche, whether they are present in this life or have moved on into the next.  Lessons learned, laughter shared, a look, a touch, just their "being" is missed.  It doesn't mean I don't have faith in where she is at.  My beliefs tell me she is in heaven, with those who traveled there before she arrived and since, but my heart wishes I could call her on the phone for a chat, or go to a yard sale with her.  Here's an earlier post I wanted to share with you today.  In it, I explain why I began writing my blog.

 Two Years Of Blogging

I wrote it on my two-year anniversary of blogging.  Tomorrow I will celebrate four years!  Blogging has been a wonderful experience for me.  A place to share my laughter and my tears.  A community of like-minded folks, as well as some who are so very different from me, and I've loved it all.  I look forward to continuing this interesting journey with each of you.

 © 22MAR2012 aj

Modern Girl

The Sunday Scribbling Prompt for yesterday was modern, so I combined that with my NaBloPoMo Theme of relative, and came up with a little poem.  It's loosely based on moms and grandmas, and those ladies I have known who continue to embrace life at any age.  To me, that is the true definition of a modern girl.

A Modern Girl

 

She was a modern girl

Circle skirt, sweater set

Bright red lips 

Poodle pet

Jitterbug made her swirl

Saddle shoes on her feet

Swinging hips

Just so sweet

In her chair feet still twirl

Graying hair, laughing eyes

Bright pink lips

It's no surprise

A modern girl she remains

She'll never settle for plain Jane

 © 27FEB2012 ajj