Butterflies and Birds Nest's.....

"The butterfly counts not the months but moments, and has time enough."

~Rabindranath Tagore~

Today I wanted to share a beautiful butterfly story with you and show you what I have been working on recently. Through a series of fortunate events I "met" Mildred and we share an email correspondence which has greatly blessed me. Mildred recently started to blog. You can visit her here, at Nalley Valley, please go over and give her a warm welcome. She shared with me a beautiful butterfly story and with her permission, I share it with you.

Mildred and her mother were the best of friends even after her marriage to her husband, John. Six short years after their marriage, Mildred's father became seriously ill. She and John sold their house and moved in to help care for him until his passing. Before his death, She and John promised that they would care for her visually impaired mother until her passing.Mildred and John sought out a home in a quiet rural setting with lots of space for them all to be able to enjoy nature. They found the perfect setting with some acreage and a yard full of lovely roses, butterfly bushes, and irises. A perfect fit for them as Mildred and her mother shared a deep love for gardening. They spent countless hours pouring over seed catalogs and choosing plants and flowers with the names of friends and family and planting memory gardens.Although her mother could not see, Mildred provided stimulation for her other senses. The sweet smell of blooming flowers permeated the garden, twittering birds and a babbling creek would serenade them, sunshine warmed them as the texture of soil, petals, and leaves caressed their hands as they worked side by side in the haven of their home which they called, "Circle of Love".For six wonderful years, Mildred, John, and her mother "have been blessed each day with our peaceful patch of God's wonderful creation surrounded by lovely scented roses and butterfly bushes alive with the flutter of both butterflies and hummingbirds."

Sadly, her mother's health began to decline and her time in the garden grew less and less and in home Hospice care became necessary. Even though her mother could not "see" out her bedroom window, her hospital bed overlooked all of God's beauty where Mildred would daily describe the scenes to her in her last months. They spent countless hours together, Mildred reading to her or playing music video's for her mother's listening pleasure. She was especially comforted by "No More Night" by David Phelps.As her mother became restless in her confinement, the Hospice nurse suggested that Mildred give her small towels to fold to keep her hands busy and to make her feel useful. Another generous blogger who knew of this sent her a box of vintage linens with interesting trims and textures for her mother. A particular favorite was a hanky with a crocheted butterfly on the corner. One day after giving her mother a manicure Mildred snapped this photo of her Mother's hands with the hanky, never dreaming of the significance the butterfly would later take on.After six months in the care of Hospice, Mildred's mother, her best friend, passed away. The Hospice nurse stepped out to the flower garden to give the family time alone as they gathered around her mothers bedside. At about the time her mother took her last breath, a butterfly landed on the nurse's hand. Upon hearing this Mildred grabbed her camera and headed to the garden. The sun was so brilliant that she could not see the image in the viewfinder but she snapped anyway. Much to her great delight the image was extremely vivid in every tiny detail.
Mildred's mother was blind the last thirty years of her life. One of the things her mother loved most was to sit in the garden surrounded by flowers and herbs as the feel and sound of the butterflies and hummingbirds whispered around her.
In some ancient cultures a butterfly is seen as the personification of a persons soul and symbolizes rebirth into a new life after being inside a cocoon for a period of time. Mildred's mother was cocooned in a world of physical darkness in her blindness for a period of time. When her spirit was released she was welcomed into a new life of the light and love of her Savior, where the lyrics of her favorite song were at last realized,

"See over there, there's a mansion that's prepared just for me,
where I will live with my Savior eternally."
God's last gift to Mildred was the memory of her beloved mother in a beautiful butterfly in the garden.

All of the above photos are courtesy of Mildred. The one of her beautiful mother was taken in their beloved garden a few short weeks before her passing.

NOTE: I chuckle as I finish writing this, believe it or not, a flutter caught my eye as I typed the ending sentence. Thinking it was just a leaf I turned my head to see a beautiful butterfly resting just beyond the edge of the porch of my writing cottage. I think of the quote at the top of this post and of Mildred's story, perhaps butterflies are a nature lesson from God. Their lifespan is very brief yet there is time enough for them to accomplish their life's task. They bring bits of beauty into the world in and of themselves and with pollination they spread even more beauty far and wide. They make the most of every moment.

Below is a peek at my latest little creation, a birds nest pin.
I had this idea rattling around in my head for a few days and decided to see if I could make it a reality. I am quite pleased with the results but still need to work out a few kinks in the design. The nest is woven from wires and fibers. Three blue glass bead "eggs" rest inside. The nest rests on a suede tree branch tipped with leaves cut from a scrap of velvet.

I plan to make a few and have idea for some different designs as Christmas gifts. The pin could be worn on the lapel of a jacket, used to secure a scarf, or to adorn the brim of a hat. I may use my loom and make knit hats and scarves to go with the pins.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Show Me Your Glory.....

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into the tress. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like Autumn leaves."

~John Muir~

Sunday morning just before dawn I awoke from a dream. I had been dreaming of my grandmother. We were sitting at her kitchen table talking and laughing. Her gentle chuckle still rang in my ears as sleep slipped away and reality crashed in. It was only a dream, she was really gone, and I miss her so much. I quietly slipped out of bed, reached for my wrap, and slid out the back door, sitting on the steps to pray and watch the sun rise through the trees. With each brightening beam of light the autumn foliage began to glow. I sat remembering all the autumns we had spent together, thankful for each one. I quietly entered the house to retrieve my camera to capture some of the color, knowing it would be short lived with the gray of winter closely nipping at autumns heels.

With a heavy heart I wandered around knowing I should be back inside getting ready for worship. I stood stock still, me feet feeling as if they had suddenly grown roots and pinned me to the ground. I felt as if I could not face people or share my grief at the moment. I heard the sound of the front door open and shut and the crunch of leaves behind me. Gentle hands reached out and rested on my shoulders, a scruffy chin on my head, soft words following, "Are you OK?" A garbled "No." escaped.

After explaining about the dream, my inability to control my emotions, and the realization that the approaching holidays will be our firsts without her, he gathered me in his arms and said, "Let's get away for the day." I was reluctant at first but finally agreed. One hour later found us setting off for the highest mountain in our state. This weekend was the peek of our autumn foliage, a perfect time to take a drive.

The first part of journey we zipped past fields and farmland sitting in silent companionship. I drank in the beauty of the blue skies, the golden fallow fields, and weathered barns. I kept my eyes turned to the gentle rising slopes of the mountains with the patchwork quilt of autumn colors rising and stretching out before me. I saw the sign for the turn off to lead us up to the mountain and questioned Handy Hubby as to why we were turning in the opposite direction. He said he had it all mapped out on his GPS. He says that often the GPS will map you through a shortcut and we would probably meet up with the other road by and by. I am doubtful but agree to follow his lead, after all, he was driving. We wend our way down a pretty pastoral area with old farmhouses. I content myself with the new scenery. We turned off onto a nice wooded paved two lane road. From there we were directed onto a paved one and one half lane road. Then onto a one lane road. Next came a dirt road that lead to a steeply deeply rutted washed out pig trail climbing up the mountain with no possibility of turning around. Both sides of the road were flanked with woods, one sliding off the steep embankment and the other rising to the sky. I am trying to hold my tongue, visions of a gaping hole in the oil pan and no possible way to identify where we were dancing in my head. My teeth are jarring with every scrape and bounce and I am longing for the four wheel drive resting in my driveway back home.

We finally crest the top and find a truck parked in the middle of the trail in front of us. It turned out to be two forest ranges. They were stunned that we would even attempt such a road in a car. One of them quipped, "I thought that was an awful nice car to be driving up this way." This after my sheepish husband explained the whole GPS thing and that we had a four wheel drive at home and had we known we would have driven it. We were assured that a few yards ahead we would hit the edge of the park and the road was maintained and the worst was over. They led us out to where the road widened and waved us on. The first hazy glimpse made it worth the climb.Around the bend we got another glimpse of the mountains majesty.

We traveled down the smooth paved park road flanked on both sides by a flaming forest.
I slowly felt the earlier mornings sadness lift as the mountains shared their good tidings. I could feel natures peace permeate the painful places in my heart. It was a veritable flood of sunshine that warmed me in the deepest places. We stopped at every outcropping and overlook gasping at the grandeur laid out before us. Rolling hill after rolling hill of undulating color invited our gaze to the horizon.
I stood studying this formation through my camera lens.I noticed a deep cleft in the face of the rock.While I was standing there I thought of Moses being hidden in the cleft of a rock, God's protective hand covering him as He passed by. I realized with a start that I had asked the very same thing of God that morning sitting on my steps as Moses did in Exodus 33:18, "Show me your glory (in this day because I need to sense your nearness)." I was seeing His glory spread out before me in His colorful creation. I was viewing a picture of divine refuge and feeling the protective overshadowing of His hand on my wounded heart. Deeply moved I settled back into the car as we drove to the next vista.
After meandering over the mountain top we took in one last sweeping view and wound our way back down the mountain via the recommended road.
At the bottom of the mountain we took a slight detour to a lake tucked away in a cove. The leaves were really putting on a quite the show along the banks of the water. A riot of red was the oaks choice of color.
The small lake quietly rippled in the breeze while I looked at more showy leaves.
Handy Hubby leaned back the car seat for a small nap as I wandered the shore of the lake, sitting for a while listening to the wind blowing through the overhead branches, watching the leaves dance and spin to the ground.
The wind did blow a freshness into my soul with each whisper. I moved closer to the shore resting against a tree.I relaxed and watched my cares drop away like the leaves into the water. I saw them get caught up in the tide, wash and cling to the shores edge, and pile up in a heavy and soggy heap. There they rested, tossed to and fro by the waves. I likened them to my emotions of that morning. I got caught up in an emotional tide that built up into a heavy heart that left me in a soggy sobbing heap. There I rested being tossed on the emotional tide. Grieving is part of the natural healing process after losing a loved one but it doesn't have to leave us clinging to the edge of the shore. We don't have to drift in its grip. Releasing this storms emotional tide into the sheltering hands of the One who heals, I was able to gain energy to enter into this new season of life. Times and seasons will change. Those who people my world will come and go. But this I know, the One who knows me best and loves me the most, is unchangeable. He will lend His Spirit to refresh me when I need it. He will let His peace flow into me through His Son-shine. He will use my life storms to reveal Himself and His energizing power to carry on. He will allow my cares to drop away like autumn leaves as I rest against Him.

I turned to see that my knight in shining armour had awakened and my chariot awaited.We made our descent further down into the valley homeward passing cattle grazing on the hillside as I softly hummed a hymn. I rested in my trusted guidance system, GOD, knowing that He had it all mapped out no matter how bumpy the ride. I knew I would meet up with my grandmother on a heavenly highway by and by.The dream still lingered in the recesses of my heart and mind but without the heaviness. I realized that just as our day had held a detour, the trip took much longer that anticipated, and the route we traveled was really rough, the climb was worth it all.

"I will sing of Your power, yes; I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning: for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble." Psalm 59:16

"I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from where my help comes from. My help comes from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Serendipity Sunday:Praise.....

Serendipity: An instance of making a delightful and unexpected discovery

~American Heritage Dictionary~(praise poster source)

"...let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
~Hebrews 13:15~

This week my delightful and unexpected discovery is the following poem. It is written by Elizabeth Rowe (1674-1737). She was a poet and novelist, the eldest daughter of a minister. Born in Ilchester, Somersetshire, England, she began writing at the age of twelve. By age nineteen she became a principal contributor of poetry to "The Athenina Mercury" many of these poems were reprinted in "Poems on Several Occasions". She married poet, Thomas Rowe, in 1710. Their marriage was reportedly happy but sadly, short lived. Thomas died of tuberculosis, they had only been married for five years, and Elizabeth was inconsolable.

Her father died four years after her husband, leaving her a considerable inheritance, half the annual income of which she gave to charity. Her literary production was high during these years and most of the texts she published were devotional or moral. Despite the reputation of being a bereaved recluse, Elizabeth maintained a wide and active correspondence and was closely involved in local concerns until she died of apoplexy at the age of sixty-two. Her works continued to be popular well into the nineteenth century, went through multiple editions, circulated on both sides of the Atlantic, and were frequently translated.

Not all was happy in Elizabeth's life, yet through her life's work of writing words shines her ability to praise God for His goodness and to see Him in the world around her.

"PRAISE"

by Elizabeth Rowe
1674-1737


The glorious armies of the sky
To thee, Almighty King,
Triumphant anthems consecrate,
And hallelujahs sing.
(skyscape above Quill Cottage)

But still their most exalted flights
Fall vastly short of thee:
How distant them must human praise
From thy perfections be!(monarch butterfly visiting Quill Cottage)

Yet how, my God, shall I refrain
When to my ravished sense
Each creature everywhere around
Displays thy excellence!(gray squirrel at Lobo Landing, Heber Springs, AR)

The active lights that shine above,
In their eternal dance,
Reveal their skillful Maker's praise
With silent elegance.
(moonshine over Quill Cottage)

The blushes of the morn confess
That thou art still more fair,
When in the east its beams revive,
To gild the fields of air.(sunrise over St. Simons Island, GA)

The fragrant, the refreshing breeze
Of ev'ry flowery bloom
In balmy whispers own, from thee
Their pleasing odours come.(flower in Gavin Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs, AR)

The singing birds, the warbling winds,
And waters murmuring fall
To praise the first Almighty Cause
With different voices call.
(mini water grotto at Gavin Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs, AR)

Thy numerous works exalt thee thus,
And shall I silent be?
No, rather let me cease to breathe,
Than cease from praising thee!


"The more you praise God for His goodness, the more you will see it manifested in your life."
~Stormie Omartian~

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

It's the Funky Pumpkin Charlie Brown.....

Every year on Halloween night Linus sits in the pumpkin patch waiting for a visit from the Great Pumpkin. Last week I was on my own quest to secure some pumpkins to decorate with so I dropped in on Linus to see what his pumpkin patch had to offer. Charlie Brown and Snoopy were on hand to help in the selection. I looked at this one but it was too tall and lean. I plowed through all these but none were what I was looking for. These were a bit lumpy. This one was too shy. These were all very ordinary, sigh, no perfect pumpkin in sight.It was a most sincere pumpkin patch indeed but I did not find what I wanted so I left empty handed wishing Linus well in his pumpkin patch vigil. I decided that I might just get, GASP, fake pumpkins! I could reuse them every year. I searched high and low in bins and upon shelves looking at pumpkins made from vines, plastic, ceramic, resin, metal, corn husk, and about anything else you could imagine and my search was fruitless. I wanted something different, unusual, not the same old same old for the front steps. With a sigh I gave up. Then it happened, while walking by a display of fabric, this caught my eye. It screamed "PUMPKINS!" to me. Upon closer inspection I realized that this fabric was vinyl coated with a sheen and texture of a silk. Better yet, it was on the dollar a yard table! Visions of pumpkins began to dance in my head. I quickly snatched the bolt off the shelf and dashed to the pattern books. In case you are wondering I used McCall's pattern #M5724.

Armed with a pattern, thread, fabric, two wooden dowels, and a big box of fiber fill I had found my perfect pumpkins! After a few snips, clips, and sewing machine zips I had six pumpkins for a fraction of the cost of real ones or store bought fake ones. Darling daughter came home from work and dubbed them super cool, "Funky pumpkins mom. I love them!"The directions said to sew them together in a stack but I knew they would never stand up to wind that way so I stitched them a little shy of the ending point to leave a small hole on each end for the dowel to fit through. I stuffed them and then slid them onto the dowel which was anchored in floral foam in the tin planters that I already had on hand. I gave them a good spray of water repellent just to be on the safe side. Another trip to the woods netted more vine to twirl and secure around the stack. Each stack rests on a bed of moss.
I also finished out the door garland. I made a bird from some fabric scraps (he got a coat of water proofing too) and wired him to the boughs. I couldn't find my rusty old letters to write my "welcome" message with so I cut some from a scrap of cork board, spraying them with glue and sprinkling them with copper glitter. I pushed copper wire through the top of each letter to secure them to the vines.I decided my friend, Sweet P., needed some tricky treats. So I put together a little bag of treats all in good fun. I thought she might need a bit of tonic to ward off the chill of the evening so I packed her up some witches brew made from a scoop of graveyard dirt (hot cocoa mix), which must only be stirred with a spooky spoon (white plastic spoon dipped in melted white chocolate with a mini chocolate chip face), and must be topped off with ghost poop (mini marshmallows). YUM! remember this is just Halloween fun! I tucked the witches brew and recipe along with a popcorn ball, M&M's, and Hershey's Kisses into a treat bag and delivered it to her.While Linus sat waiting in his pumpkin patch last night and poor Charlie Brown was receiving rocks in his treat bag we had a little gathering here at the Quill. I had unexpected guests drop in just as I was about to decorate for the nights event. I sweetly sat and sweated it out much relieved when Handy Hubby arrived home from work early. I politely excused myself to slap something together, not what I had planned but better than I expected for ten minutes! They departed shortly before family arrived.The candy was dandy, sweet and salty!And yes I admit it, I cheated! Those are not homemade caramel apples or popcorn balls AND I served my guests pizza from the box when it arrived AND they had to drink soda from the can! Can you believe it? On paper plates no less, not even cute holiday ones, just plain white! What's a hostess to do when a monkey wrench is thrown into her plans?

As we were sitting around talking a hush filled the room as a Ninja burst through the front door with a loud "High Yah!" and karate chop move from his plastic sword that was taller than he was. I have to say that he was the cutest little Ninja that I have ever seen. In true Ninja style he tumbled over, got up with a grin, and came over to give his Hannah-son a hug.

Sweets, treats, and eats were dispersed and pumpkin carving commenced. We had a 28 lb. pumpkin to carve. Darling daughter and her date did the honors. It took the other four of us to keep up with the tiny Ninja Boy! A simple design of two spooky trees was rendered. At the big reveal all the lights were turned out and Darling Daughter entered the room with the lit pumpkin. She found herself attacked by Ninja Boy who was attracted to the flickering flame like a moth! The attack was so sudden that she almost lost her grip.Here is Ninja Boy gazing into the pumpkin flame.This was one of those days that you want etched into the heart as well as the memory. Nothing went as planned but turned out better than expected. Laughter rang through the walls of the Quill as one small family came together. Conversation flowed like water. Love permeated the air. The Spirit of celebration reigned quietly over all.

"There is nothing like the hearth of home,
With the family gathered 'round,
Where love, laughter, and merriment abound."

~Miss Sandy~

Beautiful and bountiful blessings on your weekend!