Dollhouse Delights

 One hobby that has definitely been life-long is that of dollhouses and miniatures.

Since the teenage years, the little world of dollhouses has always attracted me.

Now, in the last part of life, I still have a dollhouse left, after many others  had to be let go due to lack of space, moving, and so on.

Unbelievably, there still doesn't seem to be enough time to indulge in playing with the dollhouse, its contents, and untold numbers of plastic tubs filled with accessories, furniture, etc.

One would think that in retirement, there'd be more time than one could imagine but that's not the case for me at all.

Still, like this morning, a peek into the neglected dollhouse brought some smiles to my face.

The little girl in the photo at the top of this post looks like she's already contemplating doing her homework!

After all, it's a brand new school year in the dollhouse as well as in regular big people schools.

The pink table with the oval mirror on top was actually the top to a container. 

I thought it'd make a great table and it does!

A very dear friend of mine gave me the teeny birdbath and now, inch-long (or less) red cardinals are enjoying it.

Dollhouses are truly a constant and reliable source of delight

HOW DO YOU FIND TIME TO ENGAGE IN YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES?  DO YOU PURPOSELY CARVE OUT TIME TO INDULGE?

Goodbye to Summer Flowering Plants

The beautiful pink hanging Supertunia plant my daughter and son-in-law bought me for Mother's Day turned out to be a winner.

She bloomed and bloomed and then bloomed some more. 

Of course, I doused her as best as possible with Miracle Grow plant food so that could have contributed to her generous outpouring of blooms.

But now, all of that is part of summer, 2025, history. 

Supertunia and all the other blooming plants that brought happiness this summer are "kaputsky." Dead. Over. Finished.

Their contents were put into a cardboard box that, hopefully, some kind person will drag to the dumpster. 

It's too heavy for me.

So the days pass and soon summer of 2025 will be among the memories, too.

I hope to wash out the planters and maybe store them in a corner of my car trunk.

 Yeah. That sounds like a good idea.

Today I stayed home in the apartment to catch up a little. 

Loved seeing the patterns made on the ground as the sunshine trickled through the leaves of trees outside. So pretty!

I hope your day was blessed, too.  

We all have so much to make us smile and be grateful for.

A Party to Remember

 There are moments in life that are extra precious.

They stay in our memories for a long time because they are so poignant.

Recently, I attended a high school graduation party of a wonderful young man. The venue was very close to a gorgeous lake

 His future is as bright as the afternoon sun on the day of the celebration.

The festive occasion had an extra surprise for guests. 

Precious little ballerinas, who were students of the guest of honor's mother, danced on the grass near the lake.

It mirrored a scene out of a movie. So beautiful!

Perfect weather, soft warm breeze, gorgeous views of the lake, and the late afternoon sun all added to the joy of the occasion.

Such events fill the heart with love and deep gratitude.

Minute by Minute

 

These end of summer, back to school days, are often very busy.

There seems to be so much to do and not enough time in which to do it.

With that in mind, just try to take a couple of minutes, several times a day, to just stop, breathe, relax.

These mini-stop and renew moments are so welcome and necessary.

Use them to think of things you are thankful for, or to appreciate the smallest of things around you.

Before one knows it, the frenzied hurrying and planning will ease and the normal pace of life will return.

In the meantime, take those few minutes of peace for you!

Old-Fashioned Beauty

The turn-on switch of a lamp that sat on the buffet no longer turns.

Until someone who can help fix it is found, it was decided to put an old-fashioned lamp with a charming pink shade there instead.

The non-functioning lamp is now on a small table in the bathroom (but not providing any light.)

The pink-shaded lamp is old but still a beauty.

It gives a soft, pink glow to that section of  the living room at night. 

The brass base, even after a scrubbing with brass polish, still looks tarnished.  Who cares, right? It's no big deal.  

The lamp is an old-fashioned beauty and is well loved.

WHAT DO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT HANDY DO WHEN SOMETHING BREAKS IN YOUR SPACE AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT?