Good Days in Bad Weather

Hello Dear Ladies,

Today a pretty pink tulip appeared in my garden just outside the living room window. Instead of picking it for a still life picture, I decided to pose an old tea cup beside it.  I like this color and now, rather than looking in a fabric store for just the right shade to go-with,  I check my little collection of "pinks" in the sewing room.  If there is any white fabric, I sometimes can dip it in fabric dye to get a perfect match.

These are Waverly fabrics, with very nice names, like "Pink Slipper" and "Carnation".

Today is my first day of feeling well enough to be up and about, and I feel like I have been revived from near death. Some of you probably know what I mean! I also have a new determination to get some things in order around here and make my home the kind of place I would love visit or stay in!

It is still quite cold with poor visibility, so I won't be modeling my fabulous hat and dress outside any time soon. I quickly made this photo and raced back inside.

Mr. S. got the big idea to remove the fencing from around the property, as we have no animals any more,  and the fence spoils the view, interfering also with mowing. After digging out the posts and rolling up the wire fencing, he has some aches and pains. He likes home made soup, so I will be making some on this cloudy day.

There ought to be another description for weather like this, other than "overcast", "foggy" or dreary. Obviously it is a time when the earth is being replenished, but I suppose that dreary by any other name is just as dreary!

I read somewhere that all weather is given by God and not all of it is bad, it is just weather.  However I noticed in the Bible during one of Pauls missionary trips that the crew on board his ship became quite alarmed by bad weather, and rightly so, for they were soon shipwrecked.  We have to batten down the hatches; tie everything down that will be blown away, close the doors and heat up the house.

These are some old broken cups I couldn't bear to part with so They are stacked on the porch table collecting rain water.  I hope in dry weather to finally paint these aging railings, as I perceive the worn out look isn't going to be so in vogue in the future.

I was looking around Pinterest a lot when I was confined to bed, and found there are some very sweet minded people who make a celebration of inclement weather or hard times. They dress up, get out their best China, invite someone to drink hot tea, or use it as a day to create. They create memories for the dark days, have journal entries and photo albums.

Now to those who are at home but seem to be fighting off suggestions that they do "something else", let me tell you, it never ceases.  In a small way I fight off those suggestions, as whenever I decide to stay home an entire day without going out for any reason, it seems the urgency to go out just comes on stronger! I will be cleaning, cooking, sewing, arranging, getting paperwork in order, and then I need something to complete a meal, a cleaning project (more storage boxes!) It is all I can do to dig in my heels and stay put!

As I have grown older I have discovered the best way to defeat any addiction, urge, or unwise restlessness is to ignore it. Eventually the voices that call you will come less and cease their whining.  I learned this from managing appetite, time,  pain, anger, and other things! 

I am sharing these delightful picture from Pinterest for those of you who don't view Pinterest: if I had captions, they would be, "Natural and pretty for Nature."

It isn't a sunny day in these pictures but the theme is so delightful.

Gorgeous 19th century painting but I didn't find the artist: 

I appreciate your comments more than you know, and I want to thank the lady who donated $15 this month! It's such a blessing and you know I can stretch that a long way!

Keep on thinking things that are good and lovely.