"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the creator"
~Mahatma Gandhi
Eagle clouds
Goodnight and pleasant dreams.
XO ~Sandy
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May 2011
May 31, 2011
May 29, 2011
Memorial Day Weekend.....
A time to remember....to be thankful....to pray for those who are protecting our country. Time to remember our fallen soldiers. Time to be thankful for our great country and those who serve and protect our freedom.
My husband and I took a drive on Saturday to take some photographs of homes that were flying flags. We stopped at one of my favorite homes. It was a delight to see it all dressed up for memorial day weekend. Luckily the owner was outside trimming her bushes and I asked if I could take some pictures. We introduced ourselves and chatted for a few minutes. Colleen was so very kind to allow me to photograph her gorgeous home. She and her husband have been restoring it for 16 years doing most of the work themselves. I told her about my blog "The Delightful Eclectic Abode." Hopefully she will stop in for a visit. She invited me back to take pictures of her garden. Can't wait to see what lies behind the gate. Stay tuned....hopefully I'll be able to return to take some lovely photos of her garden. I'm so very grateful for the kind people that I meet while taking photographs, and I'm thankful that they share their beautiful creations for others to enjoy.
This gate belongs to the historic Wilcox estate. The estate is nowhere near her former glory and is badly in need of restoration. It was built in 1903 by William Markham who invented the BB gun and was the co-owner of the The Daisy Air Rifle Company. In 1911 George and Harriet Wilcox purchased it and raised their 3 children. In 2000 the oldest son Jack Wilcox sold the house with the vision that condominiums would be built around it and the home would be preserved for the community to enjoy.
Memorial day weekend is also a time for working around the house and being outdoors gardening and barbecuing.
Come let's visit some gardens....a glimpse of my dear friend Lise's garden. She is extremely talented and knows how to place things just right.
Marilyn's gorgeous red gazing ball!
Lise started a trend in our neighborhood. Painting the front door in a vibrant hue! This isn't the best shot, so I'll add some more pictures another day.
My back door is in dire need of a paint job. Guess what I might be doing this weekend?
Amanda (Lise's daughter who lives right down the street) just painted her front door a similar hue of purple....(pictures coming soon)
Have a wonderful nice long weekend....doing what you love and being with those you love! Until next time.....
~Sandy
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May 28, 2011
Just Before Dawn
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May 24, 2011
What color is your front door?
The front door of our homes create a first impression. What message does your front door convey? Whether you live in an apartment, a small home, or a mega mansion you can make a statement with the color of your front door.
This front door is my favorite! I love the bold color and high contrast. The fushia chair makes everything pop while the white door surround softens the color of the bright bold door. The woman who created this is a true artist and simply delightful! I met her lovely family while walking through her neighborhood with my camera hanging from my neck. They were so warm and friendly and allowed me to step onto their porch to get a better shot with my camera. Her son was adorable.
One of the other neighbors a few blocks away was fearful and suspicious (you never can be too careful in our society) and this person called the police. How do I know this? My husband said the police called yesterday and had to follow up because a neighbor was wondering who was walking around taking pictures of houses. The man had taken down my license plate number. He also embellished the story by saying that I was trying to hide from him (I actually waved hello). My husband explained to the officer what I was doing, why I was in the neighborhood and told him about my blog. Needless to say, the officer was delighted.
So.....create something different! Choose soft and subtle or bold and daring! Stay tuned to see what color will adorn the front door of the Delightful Eclectic Abode!!! Actually, the back door may get painted first!
I'd love to hear your thoughts about colors for your front door.
~Sandy
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May 16, 2011
Beginnings......and endings......
Every story has a beginning, the storyline and an ending. Some endings are not really the end, but just the ending of a chapter or a book that leaves room for a sequel to take form. That is kind of how life is, isn't it?
Sometimes beginnings are both exciting and scary. Once I get started and practice living in the moment it's not so bad. Then there are endings......the loss of a relationship, a beloved pet, a family member. Sometimes it's the loss of a job, a friend who moves away, or the ending of a long-term goal that has been achieved (graduating from college comes to mind). The love and memories remain and help to heal our hearts. After accomplishing a goal... we find new things to achieve.
We all get attached to people, places and things. I think that's what meant by "wear the world like a loose garment" because life is always changing, and people come and go. Life is a process of letting go, and letting in. I've found that for me, I have to let go of outcomes and expectations. Not as easy as it sounds. Let go, and let god......surrender to the moment. Feel my feelings, but try not to get stuck and saturated in sadness....Today I'm feeling a little down. Perhaps it's because it's been dark, rainy and cold the past couple of days. It's also the time of year that my mom and I would go for long drives stopping at little shops in the towns along the way. I really do miss her.
I'm also very attached to my 2 little shih tzus Kayla and Kensie! Kayla is a cuddly sweet little girl who is dreamy and relaxed. Kensie's a little high-strung and always on alert. I'm feeling sad because I love them so much.....and while in my garden today I was reminded of how much it hurts to love. When I open my heart to love.....it's sad when I have to say goodbye. I have 2 stones in my garden as reminders of my last 2 beloved pets Snuggles and Rinnie.
I miss Snuggles and Rinnie (they both passed away 9 years ago). I had these stones made in their memory. When we got snuggles from the Humane Society, there was a little sign on her cage that said they got rid of her because she was too much trouble. She was only about 10 weeks old when we got her. She was a challenge, but she wasn't too much trouble. She was a moody little dog.
Rinnie was given to me by a friend when he was a little over a year old. He was definitely a little ray of sunshine! I loved his happy spirit and he adored me!
When they passed away...my heart was broken, but then we got Kensie (right after Rinnie died) and then Kayla 8 months later. Snuggles passed away only 5 months after Rinnie. It's funny because both of our newer dogs look almost exactly like the 2 that passed away!
When I go for walks in our neighborhood...people say "wow, your dogs look so healthy, you've had them a long........time." I have to tell them that this is the second set of shih tzus that just happen to look like the other two that died. I think next time we'll get a completely different breed. I'm thinking about a little dog that can be carried around in my purse. No dog carriages for me! I've seen so many people walking around with strollers for their pets. I guess it's useful for carrying your shopping bags as well as your dog. I've seen people riding their bikes with a little zip-up trailer so their dogs can come along for the ride. Hmm.......that might be an idea.
I love my little Kayla girl
Kayla monkey face
Today I paid my daily visit to one of my favorite blogs...Dear Daisy Cottage. I had a feeling that her life was in transition...she announced today that she was moving in another direction and she provided a link to her new site.
http://deardaisycottage.typepad.com/imagery_by_kimberly/
At first I thought "oh no" I just found you please don't go away! But then.....I clicked on her new site and my heart was filled with joy! She had the most magnificent picture of a swan and her babies that she took at the lake near her home. Her photos were gorgeous! I'm so happy for her and wish her the very best! She's not going away....she is just transitioning....to a new chapter in her life!
Missing my mom this week....her birthday was May 5th and mother's day recently passed.
Beryl Girl, my beautiful mom made her final transition Jan 28, 2010
My first reaction to change is "oh no" hang on tight, and hold on for the ride! Life is continually changing and the earth is always in motion. This is a fact of life, but when there is too much change all at once....it throws me off balance. This past year has been filled with constant changes, but guess what? I'm getting through it all one day at a time. The sadness and grief over losing my mom comes in waves. The grief is much better now that some time has passed but I never know when something will trigger a memory and then I feel sad. I don't fight it.....I go with it because allowing myself to honor exactly where I'm at helps me to move through the experience more freely.
Getting out in the garden with nature helps to lift my spirits!
Transitions....growth....process...movement....this is life.....and the story continues...It keeps life interesting! Every day begins with the sun rising and ends with a beautiful sunset!!! My perception helps to create a happy story!!! If I can't see the sunshine or sunset, it's because the clouds of perception are covering the beautiful truth......that we are always loved and never alone!!!! God loves us unconditionally and I can see the spirit of love in everyday experiences.
Love and peace,
~Sandy
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