there are moments...

       there is this path from the road thru the trees at our property 

     in northern Wisconsin...I never quite know what sight will await 

         when I enter the clearing ~~ this was my gift on Saturday.

pardon me as I climb upon this soapbox

A fashionista I am not.  I have always thought it would be cool to be stylish

or boho or professional chic...but at the end of the day, I don't have time

for that - it is just not a priority to me.  So I usually find a comfortable pair

of shoes, a roomy top, a comfy pair of pants and wear them out.  

So, with rare form, Friday night I went shopping.......for clothing.  Now I 

wish I could say it was because I had just shed extra weight or had been

invited to a Whitehouse gala, but it had more to do with a new job

around the corner.

Carefully picking out some comfortable & "cute" looking tops ~~ I headed to

the mirrors we all love in the dressing room ~~ and that is where this story

actually begins.  There were clothes strewn all about, every hook taken, piles

on the floor - even empty make-up boxes in the mix (theft).  I was stunned that 

women did this!  When I went to the dressing area nearer the "older women"

area, it was no different.  Seems manners fall away behind closed doors.

I grew up learning that we pick up after ourselves, just what you did.  As a teacher, I 

always made sure the kids knew "there are no clean up elves".  

When I went to check out, I asked the clerk if the dressing rooms were always

so thoughtlessly left.  She said that it was actually part of her job to pick them up

& on that Friday they were left better than usual by customers.  Wow!  Just wow!

So it may not be a big deal, but for this young women that probably spends a 

few hours a day picking up after pigs...I mean others, kindness starts behind

that dressing room door.  It is where we, as women, accept ourselves for who we

really are.  

porching it

We are ever so lucky to have a large three season porch off the

summer kitchen.  With 12 windows, it offers sun & breeze.  One

of my vacation "to dos" was to refresh the porch with its mix of

second hand furniture.  Dave repainted the floor a forest green,

which highlighted my love for green in all of the shades of nature.

I threw an old blue floral comforter over the comfy couch and made

sure that bits of red, green, and blue were anchored with white.

With two ceiling fans, a place to grab the right shoes or boots when

heading out the door & tables for eating or setting loads on their 

way in or out...this is a versatile space.  Yesterday, we added buffalo

check valances in a perky shade of Apple green...I will add more of this
color as I nip & tuck over time.

As I type this, I hear the rustle of the breeze through our cottonwood 

tree, one of several pairs of wrens singing, and the melody of a farm

yard wind chime.  Porching it!

for the love of Pinterest

I am loving the new look....loving it!  They are inspiration collages!

home

My home is an 1857 Federalist style brick house in Augusta, Wisconsin.

It is the love of my life.

My home is a 28 year old boy living on his own in Mill Creek, Washington.  

He is the love of my life.

I cry when I leave both ~ that is what makes them home to me...