A Time of Sadness

Florida.

So dear to my heart. 

My previous home for 28 years.

Where my dad still lives.

Where my children make their lives.

And where my grandchildren are being raised. 

Orlando.

Normally thought of as a vacation paradise.

My heart, thoughts and prayers go to all of those whose lives were so greatly changed by

the events of today.

I am at a loss for words over the sadness.

So I will refrain from saying anything else.

Fabric Collage: "Forever in my Heart"

Hello friends! I hope that you are having a good week.

This past Saturday was a sad day for my neighbor and friend, Pam. Her sweet little cat, a grey tabby named "Monkey" did not recover from the cancer surgery that he had at the end of the year, and had to be put down. It was terribly hard for her, but us as well, since we used to feed Monkey when they were away, as they did for our cats when we were away.

We knew that he was not doing well, as he had stopped eating and drinking, but Saturday night, about 8:30 I noticed that Pam and her husband, Al, were out by their garage moving their car around with the headlights shining on the side of the driveway. Right after I noticed that, she sent me a text saying that Monkey had just crossed The Rainbow Bridge. So Mr. Perch and I put on our coats and went over there, where we stood and watched Al dig Monkey's grave, upon which Pam placed a little marker.

Mostly Monkey was an outdoor cat, so he would often pay us a visit while we were gardening or sitting on our front porch. He loved to hunt mice and voles and bring them to Pam as gifts. We choose to remember him that way. I was hard-hit by his death as we have two cats ourselves, and our little Ollie is a grey tabby just as Monkey was. Losing pets is so hard, but hopefully we will see them all again one day.

So I made Pam this little collage to honor Monkey, 

and to celebrate the joy he brought her.

Here it is hanging on Miss Grace,

my mannequin...

It's quite simple, actually.

The background fabric with the fringe

is from an old window valance 

that I came across while cleaning

out the attic.

It seemed to match the image so well...

Laces, brown velvet ribbon, 

a small tulle flower,

and some vintage buttons...

This most beautiful image, which is the nicest

I could find featuring a grey tabby cat,

is from Ireland Rose Nostalgia on Etsy, 

and you can find her here...

A little crystal heart dangles from

one of the buttons...

And some crinkled seam binding is tied in

a bow at the top...

I backed it with a pretty piece of

vintage ivory silk brocade.

I hope that Pam likes it as much as I liked 

Monkey.

Oh, and if there's anyone out there who is not

sure of what The Rainbow Bridge is,

click on this

for a beautiful version of it.

If you doubted that animals go to Heaven,

you won't anymore.

My daughter sent a similar version to me when

my Shih-Tzu passed,

and I sent this one to Pam.

**************************************

Today think about your family, friends and pets,

and feel joy that they are with you.

Fabric and Paper Collage: Thankful

"Give thanks for a little

and you will find a lot."

-- A HAUSA PROVERB

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I am giving some thought as to all that I am thankful for. 

But I am not so thankful for the sadness in France this week. 

My prayers are with the people that were so adversely impacted by the recent events in that country. 

What terrible irony there is in that "the city of love" played victim to those with such hatred in their hearts. 

Though I have never been to Paris, my great grandmother was born there, 

 so I feel a kinship to the people of that city and a love for the country that helped
 ours become what she is today.

Though I hope that the people of France are finding something to be thankful for,

it might be a little hard right now.

But it will come. 

As it did after our own terrible day some years back.

France, this one is for you...

This week I will join Wen's Simply Neutrals Tuesday.

Wendy was born in France,
so my prayers are especially with her.
You can find Wen's blog here.

Sunsets and Sadness

"Sunlight and shade; rich gold that dulls to grey"---George Weatherly

Hello friends, and greetings from Florida! We arrived here on Thursday and did a lovely early Christmas with my daughter's family. (My son was down in Key West for a wedding, so we will see him after the holidays when we bring my dad back.) It was so great seeing them and how my grandchildren have grown.

When we were just outside of Tampa the other night I couldn't resist snapping a few photos (one shown above) of the most beautiful and unusual sunset that I've ever seen. It almost looked like the sky was upside down. My cell phone doesn't shoot the best pictures, but I couldn't reach my camera. I am also posting today on this phone.

The sunset made me think about the anniversary of the deaths of all of those innocents in Newtown, CT last year. My thoughts are with their families.

Have a wonderful day!

Sue

The Anniversary of 9/11: Work or Fight?

Good morning friends. On this, the anniversary of 9/11, I just wanted to say hello and wish you well. I gave some thought as to what the tone of this post would be, and felt that I couldn't say it much better than I did last year, so I have repeated that post at the bottom of this page in case you didn't see it the first time.

In light of the goings on in Syria, and President Obama's speech last night, I am going to break with my tradition of trying to keep the tone of this blog light-hearted and without voicing my opinions on matters over which I have little control (and believe me, I DO have my opinions, as my husband and children would tell you!).

The vintage photo above was likely taken during World War I in an era when our men went off to war, and we ladies stayed home to "hold down the fort", so to speak. You may need to enlarge that photo to see the detail, but the sign says "Work or Fight. We Work". I found myself wondering if the women in that picture, and other women of that era, were more forward-thinking than having had been credited for. If you saw a modern version of that picture, say, perhaps, a group of women in modern attire riding in a 2013 convertible Mustang, and holding the same sign, would they possibly be saying "Work or fight? We would rather work towards a peaceful resolution. We would rather let the United Nations assess all alternatives before running the risk of again sending our military off to fight in yet another foreign land. We would rather do what it takes to avert the possibility of another 9/11, or worse." What do you think they were saying? What are we saying now? Just some thoughts on this day.

Anyway, here is the post that I did one year ago. Thanks for stopping by, friends.

Hello friends.

I thought that this day should not be about pretty gardens, home decor, or creativity, but rather a day of reflection and thanks. We all remember where we were on that awful day 11 years ago. I remember that I was at work,  and we were all called into the conference room to watch something on TV. It seemed that a jet had accidentally crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers up in NY.  I was living and working in Florida at the time, but had grown up in New York not far from Manhattan, so I couldn't believe what had happened. I thought it must have been something like when the Empire State Building was hit by a plane many years before. We watched in horror as a second jet hit the other tower, thinking briefly that it was yet another accident, and what were the odds of that? As the truth unfolded, we accomplished little that day and worked at our jobs through a fog of shock.

Years before the events of 9/11, my Dad had worked in the City, watched those towers being built, and had worked in one of them for a period of time. I could not help but identify with those that on that morning watched their spouses going off to work and their children heading out for school, never realizing that this would be the last they would ever see them again. To this day, like so many of others, I cannot think of that time without a catch in my throat, a tear in my eye, and a loss of breath. It is the same feeling that I get when I am reminded of the Kennedy assassination, and the little boy that saluted his father as his casket went by.

I was, and still am, thankful for first responders, unsung heroes, American flags that fly everywhere, and living in a great nation that comes together when the need arises.

I hope that you and yours have peaceful day.

Sue

Memorial Day Weekend: The Real Reason for Celebrating...

Memorial Day is a holiday that originated after the Civil War. Did you know that it was originally called Decoration Day? Though the term "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, this was not common practice until after World War II. Federal law declared it the official name in 1967. You can still find many vintage post cards that reflect the Decoration Day name.

Decoration Day

 

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest

On this Field of the Grounded Arms,

Where foes no more molest,

Nor sentry's shot alarms!

Ye have slept on the ground before,

And started to your feet

At the cannon's sudden roar,

Or the drum's redoubling beat.

But in this camp of Death

No sound your slumber breaks;

Here is no fevered breath,

No wound that bleeds and aches.

All is repose and peace,

Untrampled lies the sod;

The shouts of battle cease,

It is the Truce of God!

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!

The thoughts of men shall be

As sentinels to keep

Your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green

We deck with fragrant flowers

Yours has the suffering been,

The memory shall be ours.

                              -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I hope that you are having a great holiday weekend, and taking at least a few minutes to remember the fallen soldiers that served on our behalf, making our country what it is today. Stay safe!

Nothing is as far away...

"Nothing is as far away as one minute ago."

                                                               --JIM BISHOP (1907-1987)

One minute ago. That doesn't seem like much. Unless you perhaps think about the terrible events of this week in Oklahoma. One minute made such a huge difference in the lives of so many people. I can't even imagine what it must feel like to lose family members, friends and pets. To wonder whether or not some of them are even alive and to wonder where they might be. To lose your home and everything in it. To see where your community once stood.

My thoughts, prayers and hope go out to all of those who were devastated by this tragedy. I am thankful for this minute as I know it.

I hope that you are having a good and safe day.

A Day of Reflection and Thanks

Hello friends.

I thought that this day should not be about pretty gardens, home decor, or creativity, but rather a day of reflection and thanks. We all remember where we were on that awful day 11 years ago. I remember that I was at work,  and we were all called into the conference room to watch something on TV. It seemed that a jet had accidentally crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers up in NY.  I was living and working in Florida at the time, but had grown up in New York not far from Manhattan, so I couldn't believe what had happened. I thought it must have been something like when the Empire State Building was hit by a plane many years before. We watched in horror as a second jet hit the other tower, thinking briefly that it was yet another accident, and what were the odds of that? As the truth unfolded, we accomplished little that day and worked at our jobs through a fog of shock.

Years before the events of 9/11, my Dad had worked in the City, watched those towers being built, and had worked in one of them for a period of time. I could not help but identify with those that on that morning watched their spouses going off to work and their children heading out for school, never realizing that this would be the last they would ever see them again. To this day, like so many of others, I cannot think of that time without a catch in my throat, a tear in my eye, and a loss of breath. It is the same feeling that I get when I am reminded of the Kennedy assassination, and the little boy that saluted his father as his casket went by.

I was, and still am, thankful for first responders, unsung heroes, American flags that fly everywhere, and living in a great nation that comes together when the need arises.

I hope that you and yours have peaceful day.

Sue