Green Wellies

True loves Wednesday...on a Tuesday night

What better way to start off the New Year with true loves Wednesday than to show off the wonderful women in my family, made possible because mom flew from Ontario to spend the holidays with us.  We spent Christmas at Jayne's, had a grand time at my place despite the fridge and septic tank disasters, she was able to visit with her great grandson when Em flew over from the Island with Aethan and we all capped off the trip with a few glorious days at Gwen's.  There were beach walks, shopping sprees, games, a movie, good meals and much laughter.  These women are such a treat to be around...the age difference slips away and we remain as always, a happy family with love and respect for each other.  All for one and one for all...thanks, girls!

* left to right...Em (the aethan diaries), Gwen (muddy yellow dog), Jayne (queen conch), me (green wellies) and mom, the queen bee of the hive.

* two beautiful daughters, two true loves

Now that things are returning to a more normal routine, I'll be checking out blogs that I haven't read in weeks and I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to!

A walk by the ocean...a true love

There's nothing like a walk by the ocean to calm the nerves after having the septic tank uncovered (as in digging through soggy sod in the garden) so the plumber can figure out why the toilet isn't flushing.  Thank goodness it wasn't anything more serious than a slipped T junction over the end of the out-take pipe and we're back to normal. 

Once the tank was covered back up, mom and I headed out to Snickett Park with Casper to enjoy the salt air and walk off our worries.  It seems as though half the town was out, grabbing the first few hours of warm sunshine that's come our way in weeks.  We had a wonderful walk and things seemed to be going along so nicely after a week of crazy happenings.  Then we got back to the car and discovered I'd locked the keys inside!  A woman offered to run me home for the spare set while mom held fort with the car, the foster child and the dog.  It turns out that she moved from Ontario to the west coast on the same day in the same month of the same year as me.  She summed it up perfectly when I thanked her for the ride saying, "Isn't karma wonderful!"

* Snickett Park on a sunny January afternoon

Top of the list for true loves Wednesday...

Sock monkeys, baskets, dogs, cats, friends, books, beaches, thrift finds and so much more...just a few true loves, but my children make my world, define who I am today and give back ten-fold in love and joy what I've given them over the years.  So on this true loves Wednesday...the one before Christmas, my children top the list both here and in my heart.

*taken 25 years ago, this rather washed-out photo shows Robb, Em and Gwen standing with Gwen's friend, Martha...still good friends to this day.  And...knee socks were obviously in!

Heart and hand...true loves

For true loves Wednesday, I thought some of my heart in hands would tie in with the holiday season.  I can't remember when I first started my love affair for this simple symbol of friendship and love.  The Shakers in America used it to represent hand to work and heart to God, but for me its meaning is much more motherly...my hands hug my family and my children are the heart and soul of who I am.  Friends have sent me cards, stickers, cookie cutters, decorations and keychains.  I've collected heart-shaped rocks and beach glass and held them in my hand.  I was with Gwen when she spotted the lovely white covered dish with very life-like hands holding a large heart and it sits on my bedside table...a reminder at night and first thing each morning, that I am truly blessed with my family and the friends in my life.

First toys for true loves Wednesday...

Thank goodness we're a family of hoarders and packrats.  While sorting through and organizing my spare bedroom, computer and sewing room, which somehow became the place to dump stuff I wasn't sure what to do with, I came across my very first doll and little shoe bank tucked safely in a box.  Her paint has been worn off from being constantly held in my wee hands all those years ago and there's still one tiny bead that rattles.  She's packed away no more and has found a place of honour on my dresser.  Afterall, she is one of my first true loves and has lived with me through more than 22 moves in her lifetime and mine, so I think she deserves to stand out!

Just a pair of socks...true loves Wednesday

I hope I still have a love affair with sock monkeys when I'm in my nineties.  I marvel that a pair of work socks can be transformed into wonderful monkeys, each as individual as its maker...stitched eyes, button eyes or rhinestone eyes, grumpy face, laughing face or sad, square ears, no ears or pointy ears, hat or no hat, scarf or no scarf, short arms or arms long enough to hug.  Well, now I have a new love who was bundled up in Leslie's backpack, took a flight on a float plane and arrived yesterday as a gift from her to me.  He's a regal elephant, not a monkey, but it's plain work socks all the way!

Baskets! Where would I be without you?

For true loves Wednesday, the baskets scattered all over the house were calling out to me.  With so little storage space in my cottage, baskets do their lion's share of keeping things organized.  I've always had them around...some antique like my grandmother's old quill basket, some vintage and some thrift finds.  They are earthy, they were made by a woman's hand and they are timeless.  Over the years, my baskets have held babies, puppies, kittens, books, toys, fabric, photographs and sewing supplies and have been loaded with flowers, veggies from the garden and picnic goodies.  One of my favourites is this old Ontario twig basket that's large enough for a grandson to sit in and has become a part of the scenery in my home.  Carry on, baskets...you're doing a great job and you look prettier than a cardboard box!