Books by the old Leather Chair

  • Snow In The Summer
  • My Bible
  • The Power of Silence
  • What Comes Next and to Like It
  • Encore Provence
  • A Year in Provence

Sunday, July 31, 2011

The Silver Thimble

My maternal great grandmother was a wonderful seamstress
My grandmother also sewed
I have some pillow cases she embroidered for me.
My mother was always sewing
her quilts that I took for granted
I now look at them with awe
and appreciate the wonderful handwork
and the many hours spent creating them.
I have always been able to sew on a button
and hem something simple.
My daughter's, I do not believe,   have this gift of sewing.
This afternoon I spent 10 minutes or more trying to
thread a needle - maybe wrong size needle or thread.
Have had great difficulty hemming a pair of
gardening slacks.  Either material is too heavy,
needle not sharp enough or my meager talent has left.
Guess I will stick to cooking and digging in the dirt.
Now I wonder how long that will last?
Sitting in my chair I suddenly remembered
the silver thimble my mother gave me.
It was one of her last gifts to  me.
Her last years of life she could no longer sew.
The thimble was in a jewelery box and I quickly
retrieved it.
It was tarnished and almost black.
Just finished cleaning and shining this special gift.
It fits perfectly
and brings back so many memories.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Day Is Breaking With A Thought

Thinking creates so many problems,
And, yet it is always trying
to solve problems,
Imaginary problems
and imaginary solutions
Goes on and on.
When you can just be
There are no problems,
When you want to "become"
Endless problems arise.
Why is it so difficult
To just be?

Words from "Snow in the Summer" by Sayadaw U Jotika

Thursday, July 28, 2011

A Good Day and A Therapon Winner

At 4:30 in the morning it is absolutely beautiful.   Slight breeze, totally quiet except for the
nature sounds.
A morning of errands before the heat of the day.
Therapon winner is
Sandra Hagan who has a blog titled " The Wild Magnolia"
 http://thewildmagnolia-southmoonunder.blogspot.com/
Love her poems and wonderful pictures -  there is a heart connection.
I try to remember how did I find her or her me ?  Does not matter,
what is important - is that we found each other...
Sandra, send me an email with your home address and I will
forward on to Therapon Skin Health
for your prize of these wonderful products.

May all have a day filled with happiness, health, safety and peace...

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Thought

Do not fear failure.  Whatever happened in the past is past, do not worry about it happening again.
Before you meet with success, failure is natural and necessary.
~Master Sheng-Yen~

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Grandma Smiles

I love this new picture of my granddaughter in an apron.
Always loved an apron.
Use to wear one daily
has to have pockets
have several my mother made for me
Her writing fascinates the
grandma with her southern style cooking
So many of the ingredients
Sarah talks about
I am totally unfamiliar with :)
Unfamiliar with so much of this
but proud....
http://serotoninforbreakfast.com/

Monday, July 25, 2011

Before And After

Thirty years
makes a big difference
No thoughts of
yoga and Thailand
You are in the middle
of the old school picture
your friends still the closest
Mom smiles....

Friday, July 22, 2011

Peace

My special time outside
is early in the morning
as dawn approaches.
With son and family visiting
staying up later.
At sundown the garden
is filled with birds.
Hummingbirds everywhere
sitting on branches.
My camera cannot
capture the wonder
viewed with my eyes.
At this time in my life
I am more aware then
ever
that at times
the days are
long and many times short
one thing for sure
 the years are short.....

I ask myself
is there something else
I am to do
while experiencing
this lifetime?

It seems I am most
content when I can
just enjoy the moment
with no questions
"just be"
.......................

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

THERAPON Skin Health Giveaway

My last sharing for a short time.
Family time
Son home after a year
Rain, hot weather,
extra busy
and
not feeling to good
as some health issues
are attacking full force....

Last month I was contacted to see if I would be interested in trying Therapon skin products and writing a review.

After reading about these  products, I  decided to try them. The big truck pulled down the long drive and they were delivered.  I was eager to see if these products truly made any difference in my aging skin.

Like many, in my past I was a sun worshipper.  A swimming pool and boat were a part of our family life.

I remember using baby oil...the darker my skin, the better. Never a thought of sunscreen. It is a wonder I have skin at all.

With all of this neglect....I think time  left me with reasonably good skin.  Have always used a moisturizer and been diligent about cleaning my face at night before going to bed.    I have the norm for a lady in her middle 70s. What do I see when I look in the mirror - fine lines, a few deep wrinkles on my forehead and some brown spots - just aging skin.

I have to say with all honesty that within a few days of trying Therapon products  I could see a big difference in my skin. My fine lines and brown spots continue to fade.   Seems I have no facial pores at all -  feel as though I have been given a gift of new skin!

I usually wear a tinted moisturizer and have not used it in weeks. I am very pleased with this product and  some recent compliments on my skin.

So enough said...you can read in depth about Therapon products and Dr. James Beckman, who developed these products for burn victims to use on their skin.  

http://www.theraponskinhealth.com/

A GIVE AWAY - I will keep all comments for the next week on this post and draw a name to be sent to Therapon for you to receive a gift of these products...

Good luck from One Woman

Friday, July 15, 2011

I Wonder

My oldest granddaughter
who works in New York
has also started a blog.
I am now reading  both of my granddaughter's
and my daughter's who is an editor
and
I Wonder
why in the world
am I writing.
My life is so simple
and such a difference
then their worlds
But then
grandma is in her 70's
and granddaughter's in their 20's
and youngest daughter a mother
and career as an editor.
They sure have exciting lives.
But strange'
I think my life is exciting at this time
and really would not trade.
Now maybe 50 years ago
that would have been a different story.
One Woman was not living in the woods
at that time
and with her present interests.

Welcome my Jess to the blogging world
Proud of you, grandma...

http://themanhattanrenaissance.blogspot.com/

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Serotonin For Breakfast

One of my granddaughters has started a blog.
This is the granddaughter that is totally vegan.
I have to be careful to have something for her to eat
on her visits.
So impressed with her new blog.
I always learn something from her.
I think I eat healthy
but then
when I read her recommendations
it is not the way this Southern born
and eating grandma is accustom to.
My diet will never be to the extent
that my Sarah's is
but
I am still learning
and very proud of her....

http://serotoninforbreakfast.com/

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Sad Garden

I am heartsick over my little garden
started out perfect
looked like a picture with the lush plants
Between the weeks of rain and
borers, 100 degree afternoons
 nothing looks good.
Squash plants look sick
Picked 25 green tomatoes with a bite out of each one
compost you are lucky
Picked 25 green tomatoes before something bit
them and will see if the ripen
Nothing bothers the green beans or the one
package of watermelon seeds planted for my little girls.
Nine have been counted
I had to smile as the helped me pick green beans
a first for them
then they helped me snap them
I kept hearing "grandma you have a wonderful garden" :)
They are taking home a 10 inch zucchini to mom.
I still have the dreaded beetles
drop them in a jar of soapy water
some plants they do not bother
but they sure like my roses...
At least 4 cartons of zucchini in freezer
for bread...

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Vagabond's House

A friend recently wrote me and said that "The Vagabond House" by Don Blanding  was her mother's favorite poem.  This poem is about someone who wanted a home and knew just what elements would make it important  --  yet was really a wanderer at heart...
Shared that I reminded her of her mother.  "mother never strayed far from home, physically, but intellectually and emotionally, her world was very large."   I remember saying "is this really me" and her reply - "yes, this is you"  you and mother are really  "homebodies", yet because of your interests, reading and openness to what the world has to offer - you could be a vagabond in the true sense.....   Thank you, you touched my heart with  this special compliment
A good description of One Woman in these last years.   But years ago I remember images like my youngest daughter just forwarded to me.... I am happy for these memories.
I asked "where are my little girls when this wonderful picture was taken"  reply -" your granddaughter took this picture."
Smiling I think  - a budding photographer.....

Friday, July 8, 2011

Why Get Upset

She smiles as she views her progress
Everything in order
Neat and tidy
gardens groomed almost daily
A surprise storm
 torrential rains and
the wind blew mightily
rain needed - but
screens blown off porch
limbs everywhere
screen door hanging by hinges
Lucky no tree fell
on cottage
Just everything looked so nice
for family visits
soon
Then the thought
- and she feels ashamed -
in light of what is occurring
in the world and in some lives
this is nothing.

"Why get upset if you can do something about it?
And, if you can't do anything abut it, then why get upset
~~Robert Thurman~~ Tricycle Daily Dharma

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

One Woman's Path

My path has continued to grow in length and width.  It is now about 4 foot wide and instead of one path there are three that begin at the back of my cottage and all connect like 3 circles.
3 or 4 times a week I ride my lawn tractor on these paths.  Deck is high and blade is whirling.  This keeps them clean.   Once a week I walk the paths and  clear any small branches or sticks that may have
fallen on them.  My son has shared that in Thailand - the monks sweep the paths in the woods where they live.
Two years ago when I started clearing - my plan was one path.  Little by little the path grew as I would ride my mower over a section many times until I now have some nice clear walkng paths.   I enjoy being in the woods surrounded by nature and family usually walk on the paths.   Little granddaughter's and Callie run on them.   As I deadhead my plants and thin some I plan on just putting them in the woods.  I will give them no care and see if some survive..

My daughter from Florida just sent an email and told me my path looks like a small road :)

~~I go to nature to be soothed, heal and to have my senses put in order ~~    John Burroughs..

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Live Lightly


.We have to cultivate contentment with what we have.  We really do not need much.  When you know this, the mind settles down.   Cultivate generosity.  Delight in giving.  Learn to live lightly.  In this way, we can begin to transform what is negative into positive.  This how we start to grow up.    ~Jetsunma Palmo~        

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Time Goes By Quickly

Just realized that 4 days have gone by and have not had a thought of something to post.
So busy and the simpler lifestyle I had in mind has not arrived as of yet.
Rain finally stopped and oh my the grass and everything growing at a rapid pace.
Sad that I pulled up part of my garden yesterday.   The continual rain or maybe borers
totally flattened my zucchini plants, yellow squash looks sad.    Everything in the garden looks like it is recovering from
a flood.   Small row of green beans and tomatoes are doing well.  Those specialty Egyptian onions
were fun to look at but onions smaller then a marble and no taste.  When I placed the order I wanted
the old fashion multiplying onions that come up every year.   They were not available and the Egyptian were recommended.
A neighbor bush hogged my path and it now goes deeper into the woods.   The wild ferns deep in the woods look unreal.   Enjoy working on the growing path. I ride my small tractor on the paths almost daily.
Camera, phone, water, clippers on board and Callie following me...
My son who is returning home very soon will enjoy walking on them.  Maybe tossing some limbs on the ongoing brush piles.
Does anyone know what this strange plant is.   I spotted this about an hour ago as I was cleaning my
path.  Rushed in to retrieve my camera.  I poked at it and the little black things that look like eyes are
some kind of insect.   Also saw this same "thing" a month ago and kept waiting for it to grow so I
could see what developed.   Callie must have dug it up....
Warm dry weather has returned.