A Big "E" for the Bird Nest (and Some Clouds)

 

Yesterday, daughter Kelly and I made the short drive over to Beebe, Arkansas, to visit a new flea market.  It was their opening day and Funky Junque is the name.  Tiny place and so darn cute!!  I loved it.  Now, Kelly is not the flea market type, but I had mentioned this opening and the fact I wanted to go and for some reason, she wanted to go too.  A nice mother/daughter day trip and it was fun!

 

 She did manage to buy a few little things, mostly jewelry...and amongst her purchases was a huge letter "E."

She bought it for me!  So, when we got home, she placed it right there where you see it...on the wall between the living room and the kitchen.  I LOVE it!!!  Anyone with the last name of EATON should have a huge E in their house, don't you think?

 

 It was nearly too high for her to place it there, but she stretched to do it...with me holding on to her so she wouldn't fall.  Kind of like the blind leading the blind as we are both filled with such grace!

It was placed in it's new home, no accidents ensued, so all is well and if/when I need help remembering my own name...there is the perfect reminder. 

 

Such a nice letter!

 

 I think it was meant to be there.  Thank you, dear daughter!!!

  

 I've also named my little house....BIRD NEST COTTAGE.  One day last week it just came to me that I wanted to name my home.  For instance, my previous house (still for sale, by the way!), did not have a name but the backyard studio did...as you know...BIRD NEST ON THE GROUND.  No studio space is available here, so my whole house, with every room essentially being used as part of a new studio, I felt, needed a name.  And, now, it has one.  Only important to ME, for remembering past days.

  

 In this photo, I am in my car, getting ready to turn right at the end of my street.  Often, while in the car, I see something I'd like to take a photo of, but can't because I am driving.  This particular time, I was waiting for an opening in the traffic, and no one was behind me, so I took the opportunity to photograph these beautiful clouds with my cell phone.   You can ignore the reflection of my dashboard on the windshield there just above the trees.  I LOVE clouds and thought these were just spectacular! 

 

Another shot.  

 

 And, yet another.  Glorious clouds!  I wish I was a person able to paint clouds like these!  And, yes, as has been the drill the last few months....more rain began to fall. 

I'm wishing you a lovely day.....

Until next time, 

♥♥♥

Another Chapter in the Pat Eaton Saga

By the title of this post, you are probably wondering what in the heck I'll be talking about today. By the photos, you may be confused. Not to worry, I'm telling a little story here....an additional chapter in my life story...and just so you know...I've got a talent for getting myself into a mess. (As you read this, think of Lucy and Desi...a couple we sometimes identify with....you know..he's trying to make a living...she's always getting into trouble, sometimes with hilarious results!)

The flowers were sent to me today by my favorite son, Scott. Aren't they pretty? Being a very excellent son....he called today and was told about this 'chapter.' He tried not to laugh, really, he did, but laugh he did. Then he turned serious, wished me well and had to get back to work. Later in the afternoon, a florist van arrived with this gorgeous basket of flowers. So nice, so thoughtful, as he is. I appreciate him very much.....so I've also photographed some roses he's sent me in the past. I've dried these...and don't you think they still look great? I do. The flowers made me feel better.
Thank you, Scott!!!

So, the 'chapter' he was privvy to goes like this: Late last night I was cleaning up the 'after supper kitchen mess.' It was late and I wanted to get some sewing in before I went to bed, so I was in a hurry. I had roasted some chicken breasts and had lined the pan with foil. When cleaning, I just folded up the foil with the chicken fat, to carry it to the garbage. Do you know where I am going with this??? Yes, some of the grease leaked out of the foil as I turned, and of course my feet slipped in it and I went for a short, high, flight into the air. I cannot describe what happened, even though it seemed to happen in slow motion and I watched my left foot do some very odd things. When I landed, I heard a crunchy kind of popping noise. I just laid there. The old navy man was already in bed, but I screamed for help as loud as I could..with no response.

After about ten minutes, I managed to get up off the floor and make my way to the bedroom.
There he was watching tv...but he didn't hear my screams! Yes, he's deaf as a post!!! I knew it!
What's wrong with you? He said. "Well, I said, I needed help...you didn't hear me....I've broken my foot!" (He DID clean up the kitchen floor!!) So....long story somewhat short....I went to the doctor first thing this a.m. and it turns out I have two broken toes, lots of bruising, and a very sore old body!!! (People ask us all the time how we have stayed together so long...well, he can't hear and I can't see...we need each other!)

After hearing my tale of woe....flowers were delivered. And, may I say - Scott, the doctor, the nurse and my sister, have all enjoyed a good laugh over this story. It IS funny, really it is. Chicken grease??? Who knew. (It would only happen to me!)

Now, the other part of the story. I had promised that those letters would be mailed TODAY!
Well, it never occurred to me that today was April 18th....the last day to mail in TAXES! So, after the visit to the doctor, we went to the Post Office. Yeah, I can hobble around, so did. And, waited in a very long line. Finally, I got to the clerk, only to find one letter did not have a zip code...and the clerk COULD NOT tell me what the proper zip code for that place was, he chastized me for using envelopes that had a clasp on the back, telling me not to use those any more and I'd have to remove those and find that zipcode at home....and then proceeded to enter the zips in his machine, to post those little paper postage strips on each of the 26 letters one at a time, while a crowd waited. (I had thought he'd just give me the stamps and I'd adher them to the envelopes! Guess that just isn't done these days!!) And, my foot throbbed.

But, guess what...it's only a 'chapter' so it ends and another chapter begins. I'm happy I got my letters in the mail....and hoping my friends enjoy them. I'm happy I didn't hit my head on the cabinets, as my kitchen is tiny and it's a miracle I didn't injure myself in a much worse way. And, I'm happy to receive such glorious flowers. Then, too, I've given some people a good laugh. And, laughter is the BEST medicine. Even I am here, not laughing exactly, but smiling in a very large way! The saga continues......take care, pat

27 Letters on Their Way Home

They're finished!!! Twenty-seven hand-written letters are ready to go to the Post Office tomorrow morning. Yea! It amazed me to hear that so many wanted to have one of my letters. I think I was shocked. In the beginning, I planned to write TWELVE letters, but as you know, I'm a softie and when the number passed twelve I started to think I should just write a letter to each person requesting one, after all, they were nice enough to WANT one. So, here we are...all are now written and waiting for me to drive them to the Post Office tomorrow so they can go home.

Included in each letter is a verse I found. It seemed to me it should be included...as it seemed so sentimental...just like me. Just in case you can't read it in the photo...here is the verse:
"Letters are a silken thread
That runs from heart to heart,
Weaving a web of things unsaid
When we must be apart." (unknown)

Would you like to know where these letter requests came from? I was pleased to see requests from all over the country....one of the good things about cyberspace...we all mix up out there somewhere and find folks we identify with in some way...fascinating. And, then, there was that one international request...such a surprise! So, here's the gist of it all:

International....The Netherlands 1, Arkansas 5, Texas 2, Tennessee 2, and seventeen states with one each: California, Washington, Florida, Maine, Illinois, Kansas, Utah, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Isn't that cool?

Thought you might want to see where these letters are coming from. Here's a map of Arkansas. If you don't know where Searcy is...(and why would you?)...we are about forty minutes from Little Rock, well, depending on whose driving! It's at least forty minutes if I'm driving, less for others. I had this funny little idea of using a tiny cookie cutter to point out my town! Cute, huh?

So, there you are....letters are going on their way to my new friends. I feel good about it. Hope they do too! And, if you are one (of my new friends!), thank you so much for reading my blog...hope you will return again and comment when you so wish. And, the rest of you also. You know you 'make my day.' Take care out there, pat

From My House to Yours...

OK...it's Monday night and I promised I'd let you know who would be receiving the twelve hand-written letters and my original embroidered basket pattern. I have to say that there were more requests than I ever thought I'd receive. For some reason, I thought not many would be interested in a letter from me, after all, letters do seem to be 'things from the past.' And a letter from 'me'....what's so hot about that anyway? I'm happy to say some of you ARE interested in my letters and that pattern too. Who knew?

My blog received 9 comments on the 'letter' post. And, my email received TWENTY-FIVE requests for a letter. This includes, of course, those making the nine comments. I'm just amazed. The old navy man and I have had a conversation about these twenty-five people. (He's amazed too!) We've decided that EVERY ONE of the twenty-five should receive a letter because your sentiments about receiving a letter were so wonderful. So, my dear blogging friends....I said I'd mail them next week, but I will require a bit more time to write them all and I'm going to my guild retreat this weekend...so give me an extra week or so.

There is a small issue...addresses for a few of you...so, Nicki Lee, Patti and Robin, I'll need your addresses, please send them via email for your privacy.

I've chosen to show two of the cards I'm sending out to you in this post....the two with beautiful doorways. I've decided these represent the letters leaving my house and traveling to yours.
Thank you all for your interest in my letter 'idea' and making me feel really good about an idea I thought you might find odd. So, look for your letter in a couple of weeks and I hope you enjoy them and, once again, you've 'made my day.' Take care, pat