PORCH CHATTER: THE PRESENT MOMENT

There are many paths that bring us to where we are at this present moment.  My paths have included joy, sorrow, pleasures, pain, and surprises along the way.

The path of motherhood has brought me a deep joy and profound gratitude for a precious bundle that arrived in my life.  The surprises and pleasures of watching a new little being evolve into a strong, mature adult with children of her own still makes my chest swell!  This path certainly changed (and continues to change) my life forever!!

Another path that has significantly changed my life was begun thirty-six years ago today.  I became a widow at a very young age.  The life lessons on this path were overwhelming at times and most comforting at other times.  Recognizing that each day is a gift has been the greatest life lesson I have taken from this.  Being grateful in the beauty of the moment. 

 I had to find solid footing again after the chaos of monumental change.  Trust did not come easily.  Knowing that I had to put my faith in a power that was so much greater than I became a comfort over the years.  This catastrophic event has molded me into a woman of strength; a woman of gratitude; a woman who is flexible, and can accept change with a minimum of angst.

The woman who was emerging from the ashes of a life (as she had known it) was becoming a woman with confidence.  This woman knew she was a survivor!  Gratitude slowly surfaced in this living day-by-day pattern.  Seeing beauty and joy even in the worst of times became the sunrises of each day.  Knowing there was a Comforter ever present became the sunsets.

Being content to live the moment brought me to another life-changing path to my present moment.

I was given another chance at sharing my journey with a life partner.  This newly emerging woman with confidence, strength, and determination was once again blessed by her Maker with a partner who accepted, respected, and loved her completely.  A man who was willing to help her become the woman she was designed to be.  A life mate who supports and shares her ambitions and her creativity.  The man who makes my life a joy everyday as this path of my journey continues . . .

Many paths have brought me here and there are still paths to follow.

"It is about coming to realize you are on a path whether you like it or not, namely the path that is your life."  -Jon Kabat-Zinn

I realize these are my paths and I am choosing to live each day on each path to the fullest!  My eyes are always open to find the new paths. . .

                            -sandi
 

PORCH CHATTER: TRUE HAPPINESS

Silk Painting by artist Chris Sandow

Happiness, what is it?  For me a real sense of contentment.  Trying to analyze what makes me happy takes some effort because I often overlook the simple things that count the most.

Awaking in the morning to the sound of my beloved saying to my little Yorkie and me, "It's that time, girls" reminds me of how much I am appreciated, respected and loved.  Being awakened by a gentle, kind voice starts the day in a much more pleasant way than the sound of some mechanical tool.

Another simple thing that makes my heart smile is to hear the voice of one of my grandsons on the telephone.  Or, in the twenty-first century style, seeing a text from one of them.

Opening the post box and finding a card from my sister always touches me.  She is so thoughtful!

Getting a phone call from my daughter who is on her way home from work.  Chatting with my daughter/friend leaves me with a warm glow in my soul.

Yes, these are some of the things that make me happy!  Family is very important to me.

So, at this very moment --  I am indeed happy!

"Happiness is not a possession to be prized.  It is a quality of thought, a state of mind."  -Daphne du Maurier

Thankful for my simple moments of happiness!!!

-sandi

PORCH CHATTER: MULTITASKING

Cute wall piece by Linda Meck

"When you perform . . . you are out of yourself -- larger and more potent, more beautiful.  You are for minutes heroic.  This is power.  This is glory on earth.  And it is yours, nightly".
-Agnes deMille

Just going through the motions -- living life like it is a dress rehearsal. 
"Life's not a dress rehearsal" is a saying we have used many times.  Today I am giving it more thought.

I have taken great pleasure in being a master of multitasking over the years.  The more "plates I could juggle" the more accomplished I felt.
Multitasking robs me of living every minute consciously.  Doing many things simultaneously means my focus is dispersed in so many directions that I am not fully involved in the moment and the activity.

It takes more effort to slow down and relish each moment or each hour or each day.  The up side to slowing this pace is a sense of peace and contentment at the end of the day.

In this new year I am asking myself what are the most important things I want to do or get involved with.  Choosing a reasonable number of acts to perform on my stage of a real life journey is forcing me to slow down and relax.

I think there is going to be more power, more excitement, more fulfillment out of real life more frequently if I follow these
thoughts.

Trying to do one thing at a time with full intention sounds like a lofty goal  but I think it will give me a richer life; not just a full life.  Of course, it will encourage me to think twice about how I spend my time.

-sandi
 

PORCH CHATTER

I had hoped to open a new blog this year where I could talk about things that just come to my mind from time to time.  After many attempts to get an accepted name for the blog, I simply gave up that idea and decided to make a section on FROGPOND STUDIO where I just chatter about things that cross my mind.  I am calling this section  PORCH CHATTER and it will appear once in a while.  I don't want to set a schedule right now.  It is still formulating in my mind.

FROGPOND STUDIO blog will continue to offer the happenings in the studio and relate mostly to my quilting journey.

I will continue to share the antics of LilBit and the happenings with my grandchildren.
 

PORCH CHATTER: IN THE PAST

I have had this watercolor painting of "Old Schoolhouse - Reliance, Tennessee on the Hiwassee River" painted by Nancy Fortune of Signal Mountain, Tennessee for over thirty years.

It has always had special significance for me because it is the building where my Mom went to school.

 

 

I have been back to the area several times and I always go by to see the building.

 

Today my hubby and I took a road trip up to Reliance, Tennessee to take a look at Spring Creek Retreat.  Of course, I had to stop to take a look at "Mom's school".

I took some photos.

This is the front of the building.  Two things were different:  a porch has been added and an information plaque on a stand.  The porch is okay, I guess, but it really did change the way the building looked to me.  I had never seen the building with the porch that had existed much earlier.

The *plaque explains that it was a church that was also used for the school for a while; that it was a meeting place where the Masonic order convened; and served as a place of worship.
 

This side view gives a better look at the pillars on which the building stands.

 

Here in this rear view you can better see the bell tower that the artist had placed in the front view in the watercolor.

This is the view of the two bridges over the Hiwassee River.  One to the west and the other toward the east.  The locals will tell you that this area flooded badly many times before the river was re-directed to better handle the heavy currents during rainy season.

It was such a fun trip today.  The weather was overcast and as I was finishing the photo snapping, the rain started.  It did not change the warm spot I felt in my heart.

I shared stories with my hubby on the way home that my mom told me about growing up in Polk County and the fun they all had swimming in the Greasy Creek.  Yep, that is a real place. 

Miss you, Mother!

 

-sandi

 

*  "Erected about 1899 through the joint effort of the Hiwassee Union Missionary Baptist Church and the local Masonic Lodge, this two-story, frame structure served as a multi-use community building.  The upper floor was for lodge meetings while the first floor served as the church meeting hall.  The first floor was also used as a schoolhouse for a brief time.
     Originally the first floor had a full front porch.  The porch was enclosed in 1927 when the church added two small meeting rooms, leaving a narrow entry way into the main hall.  The church and the lodge moved to new facilities less than a mile to the east on Highway 30.
     It was founded on October 8, 1848 as Hiwassee Union Baptist, and then in 1859 joined Sweetwater Baptist Association.  In 1861 the Ocoee Baptist Association was formed, so they asked to be released from Sweetwater's Association and joined the Ocoee Baptist Association.  Hiwassee Union Baptist went on to join Eastanallee Baptist Association in 1871, and finally it joined the Polk Baptist Association in 1921."