Wednesday, April 22, 2015

One year ago today... Earth Day ... A New Begining

One year ago today, I choked down my tears as the bulldozer 
made its way up my drive-way turning my dreams into my reality.
  A dream I held onto for over 40 years...was now coming true.
                                       I had the best contractor ever, Hank,                                      
along with all of his workers.  They were all interested
 and kind and built me the  most  adorable house 
and got me OUT of the trailer within 6 months.
Now that we are settling in, let me show you around.
I planted a wildflower lawn in the front yard.
These sweet little blue flowers along with 
little daisies are starting to make their appearance.
My garden, small but delightful.  Raspberries,
strawberries, potatoes, onions and lettuce are already producing.
Along with my Lilac tree that bloomed big time this year.
We view the morning sunrise from the front porch and
the evening sunset from the back porch.

      

        Time to exchange these hand-me-down
and worn chairs into cheerful useful chairs.

                         
 Kitchen flower box...primroses and nasturtiums
 My son's cottage is taking shape and giving him much pleasure..
comfort and peace.
He is now finding some time to work on his own projects,
like his 1930 Model A.  She will be up 
and running for the summer.
 I  finally moved all of my household belongings out
his garage/shop and into my new house...giving him the room
to create and work on his restoration projects.
He and his sidekick, Lily the diabetic cat, are always
working somewhere on the property. 
I admire his tenacity (and his brothers) in spite of
their disabilities they both continue to live their lives
to the fullest.  Walking is getting increasingly difficult.
Lastly, this is a picture of my friend, Ali and me.  As I wrote
in my last blog's history...she is the lady I met during jury duty
and is giving me piles of beautiful cloth to sew Little Dresses for
little girls in Africa and around the world.




The first 12 dresses mailed out last week and I am thrilled to know they are on there way to little girls everywhere.

***
A few weeks ago, I found myself very distraught and could not stop crying.  Laying on my bed I wondered what was going on with me.  I had a new beautiful home and property and 
kids and grand-kids and cats and sewing... what was my problem ?  

 With a little help from my friends I think I have it figured out.    
When I left Colorado five years ago, I knew moving back home after 27 years would be a bit tricky.
Coming back to what I left behind took me all of the past five years to come to terms with.
I believe I have made some deliberate moves to free me from my past...I guess I just never realized
I was carrying so much baggage.  

I put the tears away and prioritized what I want to do. 
 After my deliberate moves,
I awoke happy and free and ready to rock !

My priorities, other than my home, garden and family, are sewing these sweet little dresses for little girls, tutoring 6-8th grade math at the middle school and making home visits to the elderly here on the Key Peninsula.  These activities give me joy and energy and a reason.  I would like to sew
1,000 little dresses (like Lillian, my mentor) by the time I reach 100 years old.
The world is shaky but by giving back, I am finding peace and an enormous sense of relief
in my letting go.