June is bustin’ out all over

Good morning Friends ~ It is hard to believe this year is just about half over. Time marches on. So far, our summer temps seem to be cooler than in the past couple of years and for that I am thankful.  We also are no longer in drought conditions either and that’s a blessing.

Here is a tune I thought of and found on you-tube for this post.

Edmundo Ros And His Orchestra:

June Is Bustin' Out All Over

 

The other morning I was going to work on needlework indoors but when I first went out I noticed how pleasant it was and there was some nice cloud cover, so I decided to work outside while it was comfortable.  The front hedgerow on the sidewalk side needed trimming, so that’s what I did first.  I raked that all up and piled it on the front patio. Then I decided to mow, after that I did some more trimming and weeding in the back garden, bringing those trimmings up front to add to the pile.  I did take a couple of breaks during that time and those help.  I thanked God that I am still able to do things around here, and that I enjoy gardening, there is just something about it.  Yes, it is hard, sweaty work, but the rewards are oh so great. I then bagged up the debris, (to be picked up on Fri. and the country takes all of this and turns it into mulch which is then free to residents.)  As I was tying up the last (third) bag, I noticed a change in the air.  It got cooler, windy, and I looked up at the sky and there were dark clouds, and I thought to myself, it’s going to rain.  Then I felt a few sprinkles and just as I got inside, it started to pour and continued to do so for quite some time.  So, I was nudged to go outside and ended up taking care of outdoor work on a nice morning, finishing just as the rains came.  No coincidence.

I did do some needlework in the afternoon, content in my morning’s work and happy to be in the air-conditioning.  I am working on pieces to re-open my little Etsy shop with.

Here are some of the little journal covers I’ve made, and some wip’s (works-in-progress). The three on the bottom are my latest.

This cover below is a piece of wonderful upholstery fabric I had in my stash. The lace is some antique lace also from my stash.  I love making the ribbon embroidery roses.  These little journals are 3/4 inches wide x 4 1/4 inches high.  I miss showing my pieces to my DH. I miss his encouragement too. His love and encouragement through our life together fill my heart and overflow into my work.  I have been enjoying getting back into needleworking again, as I quit there for awhile as my heart just wasn’t into it. This journal has some nice green seam binding as the tie closure.

Close-up.

Here is another one. More upholstery fabric, ribbon roses, and a piece of beaded crocheted edging that I made. One of my favorite embroidery stitches is the French knot.  I used a deeper color of ribbon for the center of these roses.

This one I just finished yesterday.  The blue ribbon will be the tie closure for the book.

This is a work in progress, not quite sure what I am going to do here yet.

Another work in progress. I am looking for inexpensive seam binding in different colors and also ribbon for making roses. I am addicted to making these.

Now on to real blooms.  Here is the beautiful ‘hugs-n-kisses again.  I just love this hibiscus.  DH would have liked this one too. The colors are so yummy and the name is sweet. When I saw it at HD a few months back, my heart beat faster and it begged to be put into my cart.

Here is the Royal Poinciana tree that is in full bloom right now.  I just love walking into the scullery in the morning and seeing this view.

I am into my 7th month of life without my DH. There isn’t a day that I don’t miss him. I still cry, and that is to be expected, he filled my life, he is the other half of me. I am finding my groove, learning to move along on this journey.  God has been my source of strength, peace and healing. This past week I’ve begun to look forward to each new day and I am thankful for the gift of each one.  I am thankful for FNF, Friends Needing Friends, the lovely widow’s group I found and that I have become involved in it. We don’t know why things happen when they do in our lives, but I know that God has brought me to this place and He is not done with me yet.  He has much in store for me. My prayer is that I will be able to help other widows.

If you know of any widows, please pray for them, do something kind for them. Their lives have been turned upside down. Grieving is an individual experience, none of us will grieve the same. It is something we will do the rest of our life, it just won’t be are raw as it was in the beginning.

If you go to church, and your church doesn’t have a widow’s group, think and pray about starting one.  If there are widows in your church they need this. You don’t realize how much they need to feel connected to each other as they walk, stumble and sometimes run on this path.  They need to know that others care for them. They need God’s reassurance that His love is real, and that He will never leave them.  They need love, encouragement, hugs. They need to become involved in helping others as they have been helped.

 Well, this post is ‘part and parcel’ of my life here at Plum Cottage. Thank you once again for your love, prayers and support.

FlowerLady