Complete Joy in Little Things

As one gets older, we become more aware of  small pleasures and gifts given to us by nature.

When in the midst of raising kids, working full time jobs, and trying to juggle a million different things, it's harder to see the things  that bring us joy.                                                                                          

For Valentine's Day, my daughter and son-in-law brought me a gorgeous fluted milk glass vase (that used to be mine, ha ha ha), filled with glorious pink roses!

They are so large that some of them can fit in the palm of one's hand.

Every time I glance at the small table where meals are eaten, it's possible to look at those gorgeous blooms in my very favorite color. 

They bring so many smiles a day that it would be impossible to count them.

Flowers are among the most dazzling of gifts that make our hearts sing.

Singing, in itself, can also be a gift and listening to others sing, as well.

Music is another one of those precious pleasures that make life quite wonderful.

WHAT ARE SOME SMALL THINGS THAT BRING PLEASURE IN YOUR OWN LIFE? COULD YOU SHARE A COUPLE?

Love or Gold?

 

The white sign with the golden letters packs a powerful message.

Gold can come and go but love is forever.

Would it  be okay to have love and maybe a little bit of gold, along with it?

That might be the ideal. 

Not only is it important to love others, it's imperative to love one's self, too.

If a person fails to love him or herself, first, how can it be possible to love others?

Even though marriage vows say a husband and wife are together  " until death do you part,"  love still doesn't go away when one of the spouses dies. 

Love is forever, throughout eternity.

Wishing you lots of love today, whether you give it or receive it, or, best yet, a little bit of both.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF LOVE?

Cousins Add Love to Our Lives

There's no doubt about it. Cousins definitely have the ability to add love to our lives in all stages.

Thanks to having many cousins, both female and male, I feel very blessed.

My cousin, Marianne's apartment has been featured on this blog in the past.

We both enjoy flowers of all kinds and pretty arrangements.

One month, she comes to my apartment for a visit and we have breakfast,lunch or brunch.                                                                    

Then, the next month, I go to hers for the same.

It's a win/win arrangement. We have  wonderful visits and delicious food which is a super combination.

Marianne and I have many things in common.  

One can definitely tell we are cousins.

For instance, we both love art.

The painting above, in her lovely apartment, is of the skating rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

The rink opened for the first time on Christmas Day, in 1936.

We both also love baking.

At a recent breakfast, my cousin served, among many things, homemade sugar cookies with buttercream frosting. 

Her mother, my late Aunt Gert, also used to make these.  They are so delish.

Marianne and I both love Christmas. This year she left her Christmas tree up and festooned it for Valentine's Day.

Hearts and Knick knacks are also both on our radar.  

Look at this sweet little teddy bear and the pretty hearts on the curtain in the dining room.

Who would be unable to love gorgeous quilts and delicate lace? 

Many of our treasures have been found in thrift shops. Yes, we both enjoy thrifting, too.

It goes without saying that we love tablecloths year-round.

We love each other, too, and that's the best thing of all!

ARE YOU CLOSE TO ANY COUSINS?

Instant Warm-Up in Winter

 

So far, this has been a very hard winter, especially when temps dip into the single digits. 

One way of giving the small apartment an instant warm-up is to bake something good in the oven.

Yesterday, it was oatmeal/raisin cookies and pumpkin breads.  

The little breads have chocolate chips added to them, compliments of  10-year-old grandsons who love them that way.

We don't think too often of the electric bill to come because it's too scary but, in the meantime, heating up that oven is a joy and the things that come out of it are delicious.

HOW HAS YOUR WINTER BEEN SO FAR, (IF YOU HAVE WINTER, THAT IS)

Visions of Pink

 

Somewhere online, a person in the store, Five Below, talked about  heart-shaped pink pillows for sale.

While looking for children's story books in that store, the friend I was with found the pink, heart-shaped pillows!

They were super soft and very pretty and cost only $7.

There were no kids' books to be found but the pillow came home with me.

Pink is absolutely my favorite color.

On the hutch in the same room where the pillow now sits on the couch, are some lovely pink flowers a very dear friend, Mary, made!

I don't know whether they are knitted or crocheted (I'd bet on knitted) but they are absolutely lovely.

So there are two visions of pink that add to the living room ambiance.

I hope you have a good and happy President's Day!