Touches of beauty in { and outside } the home
Mrs. Fuentes wrote an excellent post on home culture, and it made me reflect on what I remember as a little girl, and how the home culture that my mother made affected me. I particularly thought about our backyards, and how much they were a part of our lives and homes.
My memories are practically lined with the foliage from the backyards, fields and woods I played in. Anything living and green in or near our homes has had a small, special nook in my heart, where I’ve kept fond memories of inspiration and delight collected over the years.
A vegetable or flower garden has also been a source of delight: there is so much beauty and wisdom to glean here. And the eagerness to help Momma poke marigold seeds into starter trays, or pulling baby weeds from the freshly rained-on earth, had almost as much influence on my lifelong affections as the books I savored.
The sunlight on the trellis reminded me of something so simple: The trellis next to the garage, with its honeysuckle trickling upward, is a full leafy vine, and plain most of the year. But just after summer comes, all the little yellow and white ladies’ gloves shower down. At night when I walk the dog in the moonlight, a soft breeze will waft by with a sweet and gentle aroma from the tiny flowers. Our backyard really is that beautiful, and as much a part of our homes as the cozy rooms inside.
“There is nothing in all the influences and surroundings of the home of tender childhood so small that it does not leave its touch of beauty or of marring upon the life. . . . Wherever a child grows up it carries in its character the subtle impressions of the home in which it lives.” - J.R. Miller, in Home Making
Cousin Margaret on 9 August, 2009, said,
What a great post! Gardening and the outdoors have been the background of my childhood also, and the background of some of our adventures too:) Like the mud covered Woad legs, and the half hour we spent trying to dig that “little” fern plant up…
Have a Blessed Day!
-Cousin M
Miss Eyebright on 9 August, 2009, said,
What a beautiful post, and a beautiful inspiration for my own home someday! I regret to say that I have not thought about raising children as much as I should, but very recently, I have begun to think about it more. One book I am reading is called Harmony at Home, and it discusses music in the home. I am only two or three chapters in, and already I love it!
Thank you so much for sharing,
Have a very bright, very cheerful day!
Miss Eyebright
Everly Pleasant on 10 August, 2009, said,
This is a delayed information that you have been awarded The Honest Scrap Award at Clickety-Clack!
I enjoy your blog immensely!
Go here http://everlypleasant.blogspot.com/2009/07/honest-scrap-award.html
to check it out.
:) e.pleasant
Elizabeth on 11 August, 2009, said,
Hello Breezy Tulip!
Delightful photos, lovely post!
I am eagerly awaiting your post about your time with Sarah Mae from LikeAWarmCupOfCoffee and her family! You always take such nice photos…excited to see them!
Have a very pleasant day, delighting in the Lord!
Joyfully in Jesus, Elizabeth
John S on 12 August, 2009, said,
Hello Breezy Tulip!
My wife and I are missionaries in Ghana, West Africa. We found out about you from Joy Forney’s blog. First I would like to say that you are very talented, and I hope you continue to use your talents for God. Also I am very happy that you are thinking about writing and illustrating children’s stories, I fear that that is an area in which we as conservative Christains have ‘dropped the bowl’. The reason that I left this comment is that I would like to get in contact with you about a project that I am trying to do. I heard from my wife that you had done the artwork for Joy’s blog and I was impressed. I know comments are not a good place to ask about a project, but I have not been able to find your email. If you would be intersted, we would love to get in contact with you. I think that you have my email stored with this comment, so you should be able to write via it. Please if you are intersted our would like other information please write us, or post a comment. If you cannot retrieve my email it can be provided for you.
Thank you for all your time.
John
Ghana, West Africa
Elizabeth Novak on 13 August, 2009, said,
Hello Breezy,
I just wanted to tell you that I posted pictures of Betsy’s baby mice on my blog.
I love the picture of the trellis in this post. It is really pretty.
Blessings,
Elizabeth
Rebecca on 13 August, 2009, said,
Hello Breezy! I was on a quest to make my homemade Christmas gift list tonight, after a long day, and I came, remembering your little doll people from last year.
This jaunt turned into a much longer one as I revisited some past posts of yours. I just had to say hello and to tell you again how lovely your artwork is. I LOVE your Faith and Josephina sketch (oh my that is sweet!) and your new Treehouse print in your shop. *Lovely*. Just lovely.
Thank you for my pleasant bit of rest.
Be well!
Kimberly on 14 August, 2009, said,
I have two little boys and this year we were finally able to complete our backyard. It has already become a haven for us all–as well as for the frogs, birds, butterflies and bunnies! Your post shows that all the hard work will be worth it.
Teresa on 16 August, 2009, said,
What a great post….so glad that I stopped tonight. This summer has been so crazy that I have not visited some of my favorite blogs often. I always enjoy stopping by yours. Have a Happy Sunday! I have a giveaway going through Monday morning.
Nikki on 16 August, 2009, said,
Beautiful post (photos and words).
Thank you for sharing this with us!
I don’t have memories like this from my childhood, but my husband and I are working hard so our children will:)
Thank you for the reminder to be diligent and keep working, enjoying, and making memories OUTSIDE with our children!
p.s. I “found you” over @ Sarah Mae’s
The Magic Onions on 28 August, 2009, said,
I love his post… it reminded me that beauty is all around me. I can’t live in the forest but all I have to do to see beauty here in the city is just notice it. Thanks. I’d love it if you’d post this on my blog today… pop on over and post it on Friday’s Nature Table.
Blessings and magic.
gardenmama on 28 August, 2009, said,
I found incredible beauty in your writing and memories!
You truly brought up so many sweet memories for me of my own childhood and of the childhood I am nurturing for my own little ones : )
The Magic Onions on 28 August, 2009, said,
Thanks so much for sharing this on Friday’s Nature Table. I read it again and loved it even more.
Blessings and magic.