Musings on Life and Beauty Archives - Page 122 of 146

A Different White

March 13, 2010 jennifer Musings on Life and Beauty

Yesterday the weather was so warm that my children played outside all afternoon, then treated themselves to homemade snow cones. I was able to begin painting a couple of things that I’m excited to finish.

The painting, however, will have to wait.

Today I’m sitting curled up on the couch in my husband’s favorite fleece blanket. It has been raining and snowing all day, and our world is slowly turning white. The temperatures have dropped significantly, and just looking outside makes me cold.

Although I know the precipitation is a blessing, I admit I prefer a different kind of white:

Remember my ranunculus from a couple of weeks ago?

They stayed fresh and gorgeous for over two weeks! They simply continued opening up, wider and wider and bigger and fuller. I am in awe of each perfect petal.

Now a couple of them are in my flower press, sure to bring a bit more happiness soon!

Upon opening the press (an old yard sale find) I discovered some forgotten wildflowers, evidence of a summer’s day gift from my little girls. The sight made me long for the carefree days of summer vacation.

For now, we’ll keep waiting while we watch the snowflakes fall…

4 comments beauty, flowers, white

Tulips

March 12, 2010 jennifer Color, Musings on Life and Beauty

Sadi Gulistan said, “If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft, & from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left, sell one, & with the dole buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.”

I will freely admit that the beauty of a hyacinth combined with its heady scent is wonderful. Yet after years of quietly repeating that quote to myself, I must say I’ve found that many different flowers feed my soul.

This week it was tulips. They were a $5 splurge at the grocery store.

I love the way tulips are both bold and delicate at the same time. Strong but fragile. Graceful yet dramatic.

They’re so tall and straight and pretty when they’re all closed up, but then they begin to open…

and the drama and beauty merely increase.

People are like that. Most of the time what’s on the inside is even better than what’s outside.

I like the way these two ended up leaning on each other.

This week my tulips reminded me to have an open heart, to accept each day for what it offered, to find beauty in what I have. Sometimes we need beauty as much as food to remain truly alive. Flowers really are food for my soul.

Which flowers feed your soul? Please share!

Have a beautiful weekend!
Hopeful Homemaker Posted at The Inspired Room

One comment beauty, flowers, pink

Seven Months of Life

March 11, 2010 jennifer Musings on Life and Beauty

It’s hard to believe that my little one is seven months old today.

I had to snap a picture of her doing her favorite thing: eating. She gets so excited that her arms and legs are flying in every direction between bites, until she starts filling up and then she leans back and relaxes. So funny!

I wish I could say it’s been seven months of constant joy, but it hasn’t. It’s been seven months of real life. Seven months of trying to balance the lives of 8 children, each of whom is unique and has individual needs. It’s been seven months of learning, seven months of growing, seven months of reminding myself to treasure and remember as much of it as I possibly can.

So, for the record, here are some tidbits about her at seven months:

She likes to try and steal her two year old sister’s pacifier when she can get to it.
Her whole body wiggles with joy when she sees me.
She likes to stand on her head (picture a baby on head and toes with bum in the air).
She likes to pound on her toys.
She enjoys her Dad’s music.
She can’t get enough of watching her big brothers and sisters.
She loves to move around, and will zero in on something and go for it (which means I’m vacuuming A LOT).
She laughs when people sneeze. (Seriously, she really gets a chuckle out of it, and will notice it even if no one else does.)
She’s sleeping through the night (for the past 5 days). Hooray!
So far there isn’t a baby food she’s tasted that she hasn’t liked. This is a departure from most of my children who refused to eat baby food. It made them gag. I’m wondering if she’s going to turn into a little chunk.

In all, she’s adorable. She makes all of us smile. I’m so excited to show her the miracle of spring, and to have her with us during the lazy days of summer. She has brought so much joy to our home. Life is good.

Jennifer