Falling From Her....

For the Love of Horses

Saturday was an amazing day.... cool breezes with bright sunshine.  Perfect weather for riding horses.  So we struck out early and headed for the Kentucky Horse Park.  Lucky for me it is only about a twenty minute drive from home, because it is absolutely my daughter's favorite place in the world.  With so much to do from museums to horse drawn carriages, horse shows and special events, trolley rides and pony rides, we can loose ourselves in a world full of horses.  Exploring the barns, petting the horses and being up close and personal with each one is where 'E' wants to be.  She searches for every opportunity to touch the soft nose of each different breed.  I am amazed with her interest and focus for such a tender age.  Some people say that all little girls love horses, "it is just natural."  But watching from the outside, I think 'E' has more than an everyday fascination.  Unlike the attachment to a toy she will soon outgrow, the connection she displays in the saddle is so much deeper.  It is love exuded right before my eyes.  Her face glows and her eyes twinkle with amazement.  I can tell she wants to squeeze so tight, as her delicate little hands brush the soft fur of her mounts mane.  It is new everytime she rides, but familiar and safe.  She rides without hesitation and has complete trust in her horse.  The quick lead-line pony ride only fuels her wishes and dreams to "ride on her own." In her mind, I am sure she is galloping through the open pastures, as she circles on the pony for the last time.  I smile trying to soak in every moment knowing soon enough the reins will be in her hands.

Quiet Reflections

It is a very quiet afternoon.  Unusally cool for this time of year in Kentucky. The spring has brought us many stormy days and much colder temperatures than expected.  Staving off the heat of summer a bit longer is a pleasure in my opinion.  The humidity and mercury rise so quickly here, we hardly have time to feel anything but a quick fresh, lite breeze of the second season of the year, then it is gone.  But this year has been different, spring has lingered, like the scent of lilac that hangs so pungently in the air.  The slow evaporation of the rains and the crisp morning air allow my mind to pause, resting in the moment, breathing in the life surrounding me.  If only this easy pace could be sustained through every phase of my day, my week, my year.  There are times I feel a bit suspended in motion, outside looking in on the choas that swims around me.  And I feel a longing to stay in that suspension, a voyeur to my own life, free of the hardships and stresses.  But also void of the joy and love of living...... that is why I come back to my senses; to smell, taste, touch, hear and feel again.  Alive.

The Sweet Sound of Music

One little note at a time, Eleanor's tiny fingers move across the keys as she practices piano for the first time.  It is a wonderful thing watching her discovering that she can create the gift of music.  She is intent and focused for her young age.  And playfully wonders how long it will take her to "play like mom."  To my amusement, I wonder when the day will come that she will play much better than mom.  Having only begun my serious study and playing as an adult, my skills are not polished or even consistent.  But sitting in front of a worn cream page full of dancing black lines, gives me an escape from the world.  No matter that I have stared at the sames pages for years, never quite capturing the right rhythm or smoothly completing a piece from start to finish, they are my songs.  The music that filters through me and that vintage upright piano is not a perfect symphony, but rather the memories of places, people and moments in my life.  Each song chosen carefully and purposefully, to carry the joy or sadness of my reflection.  And that is the gift of music for me.... the one I hope that my daughter will in time discover for herself.  Music helps define our lives from special memories to everyday joys.  Sometimes it is the only expression that can capture the true essence of a moment, past or present.  Leaving us with that old familiar feeling, never wanting the song to end.  "Play it again, Sam."  Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca

Way Too Long To Wait

I have been away for far too long.... life has a way of sweeping me up sometimes into a funnel cloud of daily activities.  And it is the end of the school year.... parties to attend, graduates to congratulate, teachers to thank and summer to plan.  So, life has been a bit crazy.... with not enough time in the day to accomplish all of the things I dream of in my mind.  I am now reading, A New Earth, and so wish I could transcend my thoughts and just live in the present moment.  For a single mother, that is a luxurious dream, and an almost insurmountable task.  But I am working on my meditation and stillness.  All the while still trying to juggle it all. 

A Place of My Own

Tucked away in a little closet under the stairs is a place of my own.  It has always been home to most all of my craft supplies, but normally they were stacked in boxes and baskets with no rhyme or reason to their organization.  To create anything I would spend much of my time shifting and moving things to discover that I couldn't find what I was looking for in the first place.  So, lately crafting has seemed more like a chore than a release from reality.  And not having a creative space or outlet was beginning to really affect my mood, my motivation and my happiness.  Enough!  So, Saturday I emptied my little closet out and started over.   First order of business was a fresh coat of paint..... Honeysuckle Bloom a nice soft creamy white background that will allow all of the inspiration to pop off the walls! 

And I did have at least one interested helper!   This was taken just after empting the closet, without the new paint, which went on quickly in such a small space.

Soon enough it was time to start fillling the space back in..... Curios filled with ribbons, jars of buttons and old jewelry, baskets with fabrics and papers all now neatly displayed.  Even my sewing machine fits!  There are of course some things that will have to be stored elsewhere now, but at least this is a start to organizing my creative supplies, and I am sure it will allow me to release my creative spirit again.

Celebrating the Season

Well, just a couple of days ago, Tuesday.... I completed a huge project at work.  We had an education celebration for our Lower School.  All of the families were invited to join their children in the classroom for a student run presentation of work.  Then they were able to visit with "special" teachers from art, music, language and science.  The Library was hosting a book fair where you could purchase books from Scholastic.  We were celebrating Earth Day, too, with the planting of a rain garden and chalk drawings on the driveway.  As well, our Art department was installing an outdoor tiled bench for classes to enjoy in good weather.  We had performances from lower school choir and band.  And to top it all off we had a family picnic with bluegrass music.  Planning the picnic, coordinating the events, invitations and numbers were my responsibility.  WHEW!  We had about 300 + people in attendance and things went very smoothly.  Thank goodness.  This is one of those things that could have just flopped.  It was a first time event, which is always a challenge, but we also didn't get the official thumbs up to do this thing until 3 weeks before.  So, even though plans had been tentatively set, and things had been in the works for longer.... it was still a last minute scramble to pull it all off.  And I am just now letting out a huge sigh of relief.  Of course with every event you have to wait a couple of days to "hear" the feedback.  Which seems to be all positive.  So I can now officially let go of this one.  It was one of those projects, I am so pleased that it went well, but I am also so glad it is over.  Now I feel as though I can really focus on some things that I want to accomplish this spring and summer, at work and at home.  I am in the mood for some serious crafting!  And am so excited to have the weekend ahead to get started!  Here are a few photos from the picnic!

The First Saturday in May

On the first Saturday of May the most exciting 2 minutes in sports happens right here in little ole Kentucky. And we are 10 days away from that moment.  The 134th running of the Kentucky Derby.  A very exciting time here in the bluegrass indeed.  Since the first Derby on May 17th, 1875 a growing crowd has been descending on Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to see the prestigious field of three-year old thoroughbreds run for the chance to achieve the coveted Triple Crown of racing.  There have only been 11 horses to win the Triple Crown since 1919.  You have to recognize the names of Seattle Slew, Secretariat, and Affirmed, just to mention a few.

As you can imagine, the hopes and dreams of reaching that crowning glory for each Derby owner, trainer, jockey and horse live and die in that mile and a quarter race the first Saturday of May.... and the only one whose dreams may come true will be standing in the winner's circle on May 3rd.  So, exciting, nerve-racking and utterly suspenseful -- all of the elements of a great moment in history!   

However, you do not have to attend the race to feel the fever that is synonymous with Derby Day.  Also known for the numerous and infamous parties associated with the event, why not host one of your own! 

A Kentucky Derby Party can be as elaborate or simple as your personal style.  But there are a few essentials to include at every soriee:  Mint Juleps, Derby Pie, Roses, and Hats!  And ,YES everyone must bet! 

Recipes:

Mint Julep:  2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of water, Sprigs of Fresh Mint, Crushed Ice, Bourbon

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes.  Cool and place in a sovered ontainer with 6 to 8 springs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight.  Make one julep at a time by filling the julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon of mint syrup and two ounces of Bourbon.  Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a spring of fresh mint.

Original Derby Pie From the 1920's

Ingredients:  1 cup of Sugar   1/2 cup of flour   2 eggs(beaten)  1 cup of English Walnuts   1 pie crust

                   1 cup chocolate chips     1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract     1/2 cup melted butter

Directions:  Mix flour and sugar.  Add eggs, then butter.  Add nuts, chocolate chips and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.  Pour mixture into an unbaked pie shell. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes.  Test with a toothpick; pie should be chewy but not runny -- Bake longer if necessary.

I'll be posting more Derby Fun, tips, facts and party information!  So, if there is anything in particular you would like to know or hear about, please don't hesitate to ask.

Under the Sink

Over the last couple of years I have made every effort to change my lifestyle toward a more environmentally friendly one.  We recycle, use a old-time non-powered lawn mower.  I don't use paper plates, paper towels, or any disposable plastic ware.  I am conservative with my electrical use, unplugging, powering down and using power strips.   I shop organic and local, with reusable bags.  Like many of you I have also made an effort to buy less, donate or pass on the consumables that no longer work for my family.  But somehow, I still feel like I can do more.  So, today being Earth Day, is the perfect day to recommit myself to living more responsibly.  And in the light of my experience this weekend, it is a necessity as well.

It all started under my sink....... 

I spent the weekend starting my spring cleaning.  After throwing open all the windows to let the cool fresh air and fragrance of the season blow through each room, removing any winter staleness, I began my cleaning ritual. Dragging out all of the rags, dusters, cleaners, polishers, soaps, mops and such from underneath my sink, I organized all of the bottles in a pretty little basket to easily transport from room to room.  After about an hour or two of serious cleaning, I began to cough, my eyes watered and my skin stung with irritation.  Nothing I'm not used to.  But it wasn't until Eleanor walked in the bathroom where I was on my knees and said "what is that smell." Then she coughed, and covered her mouth with her hand.  "Yuck, that stuff makes me sick." At that moment, I realized just how many chemicals I am spreading around my house.  These toxins are being absorbed by my daughter, our dogs, me and ultimately the earth. YUCK was right.  So, I quit and began pouring over my stacks of magazines to see what suggestions or products I could replace all of those awful chemicals with.  Of course I did not have to look to far or for to long, since every magazine you pick up has tips for turning green! 

Trying to sort through all of the "green" information is somewhat overwhelming.  There are ways to go green for your home, your health and even your pets.  But don't let the wealth of information stop you in your tracks.  If you just focus on one area at time, like cleaning, it really narrows your search and breaks up the information into manageable parts.  And I have to remind myself not to look at the ads, just the articles.  Because the ads are just trying to sell you another product, not educate or inform or even provide you with a solution -- they just want you to purchase. So, I look for "tip sheets" or one page mini-articles of condensed information.  Like the simplicity of this month's Country Home's article on "Green Clean," featured here in the photograph, most of the remedies for green cleaning are direct and too the point.  No explanation needed, just the recipe, what it is used for, and how to use it, are the only things listed.   

Gathering a couple of ideas from several sources, provided me with solutions that I could find right in my own pantry.  So, there was no going out and buying new products to replace the 'bad' ones.  I simply had to take a few moments to mix up a couple of different "cleaners" and I was back on track.  Now my home is a cleaner, safer more environmentally friendly place.  Hooray me, right?  Well not really.  I still have the dilemma of figuring out how to safely dispose of all of the toxic cleaners under my sink!

Trixie and Scruffles

We had some exciting visitors yesterday afternoon.  My neice and nephew, brought their two new bunnies to visit.  Trixie and Scruffles bounced around the family room floor, delighting Eleanor and myself.  Soft and fuzzy, the two little bunnies are kind an not a bit shy.  They did seem to be a bit timid at first, being in a new place.  But eventually decided to explore.  Especially Trixie, the little brown bunny.  She really liked checking out our house.  Scruffles is a lot bigger, and seems to be a little lazy.  He just found his spot and stayed put.

Eleanor so wanted to hold them, but their little sharp nails kept her from really being able to squeeze them too long.  It was a great little surprise to see the bunnies yesterday.  I am sure we will visit with them often, or else I may have to adopt a bunny myself. 

Scruffles

Trixie

Finishing Touches

OK. This is my bedroom, and I have worked on it for over 3 years. The bedroom suit, I found at a garage sale in someone's barn for $300. A steal for 5 pieces. The chairs, mirrors, accent tables and artwork have also been gathered or given to me over a long period of time. I constantly gather fabrics, just piecing together things that I love. And once I feel like I have a collection that works together, then I begin to decide how to use each fabric. And this arrangement of pillows is what came out of this particular collection of fabrics.

I love a mix-and-match cottage style, it makes things relaxed even when you are using silks. My home is mostly full of old furniture, that I have recovered. Or things I have inherited. So, I just try and pull it together with fabrics.

Now my project for this room is wall color. Everything else is in place and finished. I just need to figure out what to do with the walls.... and looking at it in photographs, really shows the room differently. And I find a lot of inspiration in that 2D image. I can see the details, where something is lacking and what is not working. The taupe is so wrong in this room with the furniture and fabrics. I think I will keep it simple and stay with a creamy, white and possibly add a small stencil, maybe a fleur de lis in a rubbed gold (you know like it is old and flaky). That will definitely be the finishing touch for this room. Along with the ceiling and woodwork!

This is my goal for the summer to finish all of the unfinished projects in my home. Mostly that will involve a lot of paint.


Of course, you change the color of the walls and then I may have to give the artwork a second look.

And I do need to replace the fan with a fixture that is sitting in the corner just waiting for me to hang it. But really that might require some assistance!

So, I guess thing are never really finished around here.......