No Boys Allowed

A new room needs new rules -

thoroughly thought through as you can tell . . .

but with brother turning seven this week

I'm thinking section 2b of the law will be up for review.

Spring on My Counter Continues

You may remember that a few weeks ago I put some plant cuttings into a jug and placed them beside my canisters. I enjoyed the green for about a week, when I noticed little buds appearing.

 I posted about it here. 

Since then I have re-cut the stems, changed the water and added a wee bit of sugar, 

and watched to see the color appear. 

I kind of expected the buds to fall off at that point . . . 

but for the most part . . . they remained . . .
and the pink petals slowly opened. 

This garden plant, way back in the yard, is far from blooming

but here on my counter it looks like spring! 

A Moment from my Kitchen Window

    . . . where morning dawns, where evening fades,
    you call forth songs of joy.

Psalm 65:8

Still Alice

Photo by Tehya

I just finished reading Lisa Genova's novel, STiLL ALiCE, feeling wrapped up in the complex realities of Alice's diagnosis with early onset of Alzheimer Disease. Maybe you know what I'm talking about, the feeling of being a character within the story and having a hard time shaking it. The book was lent to me by someone who could have guessed at my deep rooted apprehensions and that I'd have a hard time opening it's pages but, once I did, I could hardly put it down for the emotional feelings it evoked.

Early on, in her quest of what is happening and realizing where the disease ends, Alice comes to wish she had cancer instead. Ashamed for even fantasizing about this, she concludes that with cancer she'd have something she could fight and there would be a chance to win.  People would consider her a hero in the fight, and if she lost, she would still be able to look her loved ones in the eye at the time of her goodbye, knowing them. She concludes with the thought that in her given situation, with her vanishing memory and mental instability people would rather keep a certain distance from her. We all know what she means.

The writer does several things very well. Telling the story from Alice's point of view, we feel her despair as she tries to come up with a foolproof plan to personally know when she will no longer be cognitive, by regularly answering certain questions about herself, In the end only the reader sadly realizes what is happening to her responses. Yet, midst the confusion and frustrations, the reader is also able to feel the unexpected joys of a family that compensates and continues to respect and love her as they've known her to be.

This story allows us a peek into a life no one would choose, yet gives insight on how to respond and appreciate the good moments. I am left with a deep desire to pray for a disease altering breakthrough for those living in its genetic shadow.

Now Playing - Downton Abbey

On Sunday, last weekend, just before the time the final show of Season 5 

was being PVR'd at home,

we were having a lot of fun preparing a dinner for some of our church staff.

Richard and Dorothy run a beautiful Bed and Breakfast in town here -

aptly name Sweet Dreams . . .

and a couple of times a year they have invited some friends to 

help them host an appreciation dinner.

The hostess always arranges with a florist friend to 

come in and do the table arrangements with fresh flowers.

You can see how this gal enjoys her work!

We set the table and continued working on the menu at hand . . .

Appetizers:

Artichoke Dip with Crackers

Bacon Wrapped Cocktail Sausages

Mini Pizza Scoops

Punch

Pre - Course:

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Fan Rolls

Main Course:

Cordon Blue Beef Rolls

Salmon with Sun-dried Tomato Topping

Greek Lemon Roasted Potatoes

Green Beans

Corn

Coleslaw

Dessert:

Strawberry Black Forest Cake

At times when we have served a BBQ, the guys have been busier,

but this time we set them to work on the take-home favors.

(could there be a small learning curve for my Mr H?)

. . . oh  . . . 

and the men served with a smile and did most of the dishes too! 

Have you been following the Downton Abbey drama?

Which story lines intrigue you more -

is it the sagas within  the Crawley family 

or the experiences shared by the servants?

Who makes you laugh . . .

and who makes you relate to someone in your life?

Although I feel safe to say that none of us today

would want to live this kind of life,

it is an escape that has us wanting the story to continue.

Spring on my Kitchen Counter

In spite of the mild winter we have had, I was very happy to turn the calendar. 

As has been noted by others, spring seems to have sprung a little early 

and now that March is here 

it just all makes more sense to see life bursting out of the dead . . . 

leaves and buds and blossoms reminding us of the birth of another season.

 (And on this day, the birth of our youngest)

About a week and a half ago I took some cuttings off a mini rhododendron

 and put them in a jug of water on my counter. 

It wasn't until a week later, I suddenly noticed there were buds!

 I went out to check on the bush outside, questioning if they had been there all along. 

No buds outside.

So, here on my kitchen counter these few sprigs of green 

continued to grow and surprise me with renewed anticipation.
It's just one of those small delights.