Imagery by Kimberly

 

Christmas has come and gone .... that makes me happy and sad.  It is all so fast.  It is all TOO fast.  We embrace and cling and then we have to let go.  

 

Or do we?

 

xo,

Me

Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas Beautiful Ones.

May you know how much you are loved in this season of love.

 

 

And may we all feel the light within our hearts.

 

I love you,

 

Kim

 

Firsts .....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just like that..... we are in the spirit of Christmastime.

 

 

It will be Saylor's first ...

 

Our precious precious blessing of 2017.

 

 

Firsts are beautiful .... seconds are beautiful ..... thirds are beautiful ..... and on, and on, and on, and on.

 

And all that is life when life is beautiful!


And when it is not - when it may be hard, scary, and dark ....


We have each other - whether we are near or far - we are together under the same precious sky.

 

YOU AND I. 

 

Looking forward to sharing this season with you .... thank you SO MUCH for your love and being here.  

 

 

Always,

Kim

 

In the Know ....

"Hello it's me.  I've thought about us for a long long time ....."

 

:-)

 

How are YOU? For yes, that lyric is SO true, I have thought about us for a long long time.  How we have shared life moments for so many years, how you have been here for so many years, how much you mean to me, how much you have graced my life. Forever thankful for you - even when I am not "here."

 

I just wanted you to know that.  

And also please know that I KNOW I have fallen way short in doing right by you and you know who you are.  There are beautiful emails that I have answered thankfully and immediately in heart but not in words; paintings that I have lovingly painted for you in heart but not on canvases; precious blogs that belong to precious you that I have visited in heart but not on computer screen; and on and on and on........


I am so sorry for being absent here.  Here - my home base; my extension of my whole self; my online home away from home.  Please forgive me and thank you for loving me as you do.  

Let's see .... what is new?  Mom is finally home from being away from her home for a month!  Her aortic heart valve replacement surgery went well but she developed pnuemonia and remained in ICU for one week and then was moved to another hospital floor for one week, then to a rehab for two weeks. She will have a visiting home nurse for awhile, but we are expecting for her to be just fine. And she is as beautiful as always!  Summer Lynn is growing by leaps and bounds and is as precious as ever, says this very biased grandmother! She is really the most special of special lights in my life!  And she loves to twirl and twirl and twirl  :-)  Saylor Eveyln? Oh. My. Gosh.  She is adorable adorable adorable!  (bias card played yet again but it is so true!) She is cooing; rolling over; infatuated with her feet; and smiles constantly!  And I mean constantly!  How I wish you could see them both. Maggie is Maggie and I am SO thankful for that.  It is hot here.  And humid.  And we can just put that on repeat now until, what - late September?  But Daisy Cottage shines ... and the blooms bloom and I love every bit of it.  The lake is beautiful with the baby swans growing up and the mamas fluffing their feathers as they enjoy their summer time break.  Papa Goose is my angel.  I see him every day. For some reason, there has not been any ducklings since the very early ones and so he has not been able to tend to them and I can see that loss in his body language.  To any HUMAN who feels that animals do not feel - well, all I can say is you are wrong.  He feels and I feel it too.  His eyesight is also getting worse, due to his battles with herons in defense of his babies.  Sigh.  I am watching him and doing all that I can for him .... our goose who lives in the wild but so in our hearts.  He lets me pet him now, over and over.  And over and over I do.

 

So now you are in the know .... of the wee snippets of my life that make up my life along with so much more.  As much as I can multi-task, I tend to be 150% in the NOW before me.  Where I am needed - I am there .... and sometimes days and months go by.  

 

But YOU are always with me.  

 

I love you,
Kim

Goodbyes ...

 

Heaven got a new angel yesterday.  My heart is broken, but in time, it will be okay.  I wish I could write more, but I can't seem to at this point.

Tears are flowing and this is all I can do for now.

To all who loved Marley, we thank you.  He somehow knew.

 

Marley McCole

August 1, 2002 - March 27, 2017

 

You will be in our hearts forever.

 

Love,

Kim

Love

Love IS all we need.  We just need to show it.

And share it.

And yes, Summer Lynn, hold on to it.


xo

You Know Who You Are ...

 

We had a beautiful Christmas and I so hope that you did too.  And as this year comes to an end, I wanted to say ~~~~~


I love you. And you know who you are. Near or far - in my day to day or oceans away. I love you. In or out of sight. In or out of touch. For you made your way into my heart. And once there you stay.


Always and forever.

Love,

Kim

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas ....

 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, I finally made a post. 

*edited to say, that thanks to our Vee, I finally learned when the REAL 12th day of Christmas is!   

 

;-)

 

I hope you all are having a BEAUTIFUL December.  I hope you are healthy and doing well! The lake has its Christmas tree up and it makes me so happy that Papa Goose has his own tree - he has to share of course - but you know what I mean.  And Daisy Cottage has her Christmas tree up too and it is all decorated and bright and shining.  The annual Christmas parade was the first Thursday night of the month and it started out with gorgeous fireworks and I brought my chocolate chip oatmeal nut cookies to celebrate.  I decked the dining room WALLS with a canvas print of one of my images of Summer Lynn feeding the ducks.  I love it up there!  I've been busy painting while Marley has been busy sleeping.  ;-)  Have listed a few cards in my Etsy shop too.  And the Great White Pelicans are back - our literal snowbirds have arrived, once again, all the way from Wisconsin.  I find that SO fascinating that they find our little lake every single year! They will be with us through Easter.  Oh and I stood on our airport's tower catwalk to photograph the runways for a client.  I just didn't look down.  Or breathe.

;-)

Well, I haven't finished Christmas shopping.  I haven't wrapped anything.  I haven't mailed any cards.  I haven't ....

Ahhh never mind.  I would rather focus on what I HAVE done.


And being in the moment of the moments.  It's all we have, right kids?

xo

 

Pumpkin Play

 

 

Before I talk about the pumpkins, I wanted to thank you all SO much for your SWEET and kind comments about Summer Lynn's "castle."  You all are such loving souls and such SUPPORTIVE souls - always.  You mean the world to me - always too.  Thank you very much my heart friends.

Well you know that I am beyond ready for fall!  For those of you north of me, and that's pretty much most of you (haha) pretty please blow some cooler weather my way!  I can't wait! So to hurry things along, I have been bringing home the pumpkins and playing!  I have real ones on the porch and I have a small collection of fabric ones on the dining room table.  I LOVE them!  You have probably seen them when you are out and about too.  They make me happy - the colors, the patterns, and the whimsy!  I used bamboo placemats that I just found at Salvation Army for a table runner and pulled my vintage glassware out of the cabinet to sit out and sparkle.  Summer Lynn collected fall leaves for me when she was here last week and I put them in a crystal dish.  Vintage coffee cups were found at a thrift shop downtown.  While I am definitely a red wine girl when it comes to choosing libations, I love the beauty and art of a bar!  I thought for the holidays I would turn the green buffet into a bar for fun and in the spirit of celebration.  I love lighting the candles and seeing the dancing illumination on the bottles.  

Anyway, I'm having fun playing with pumpkins and layering the house in patterns and cozy fall fun.  You know - so that when it drops to 70 something, I will be ready!!!

 

;-)

 

xo

Her Special Place ...

 

Our Summer Lynn turned 4 years old yesterday.  I had her with me for the day while her Mommy and Daddy had to work. I couldn't wait to surprise her with her special "hideaway" I created for her upstairs!  I finally cleaned out the upstairs guest room closet which has a glorious window view to the blue sky and has tall ceilings with rustic 1922 wood floors.  I have spent the last few weeks gathering art work from around the house and happy flowers and wreaths from thrift shops. My dear sis made an adorable teepee for her out of several yards of fabric that I picked out in the boho theme to go along with the guest room redo that I just did. There were shelves in there already and I have put all of the children's books that I have saved from my kids' youth and ones that I have gotten for her on them. My childhood Thumbelina, and other baby dolls are in there for her to love on.  I filled clay pots with crayons and there is lots of paper to color on.  I don't think you can see in the pictures above, but there are branches brought home from the lake perched on the shelf going up to the ceiling. There are play clothes and dress-up shoes and hats. No noise toys - only things to dream and imagine with.  I love this special place. And it was a joy to create for her!  I will paint the ceiling blue with clouds and add butterflies to the branches .... oh and twinkle lights too.  :-)

Upon seeing her special hideaway, her eyes lit up and her smile was huge.  You could see her and her little mind and heart take it all in.

She said, "I love my castle Birdie!!  I love it TOO much!"  She always says "too" instead of "so."  I asked her if she might want to call  it something else - like her "hideaway" or her "forest"  or her "tent."  She was very decisive in that no, thank you very much, this was her CASTLE.

And so it shall be. 

Happy Birthday my love.  You are so deserving ....  I love you always and forever.




Your Birdie.

"I See Trees of Green ...."

 

"And I think to myself - what a wonderful world."

Our world may be badly broken and it may be severely hurting and how I worry, and cry, and hope that it mends as my heart breaks for all who suffer.  But, like the incredible Louis Armstrong,  I will always believe our world is wonderful and I will always see trees of green and find the good somehow, someway, wherever I go.  



Because I have too.  

 

xo

Play in Progress - Upstairs, Etc.

Happy Monday to you!  I hope you all have had a wonderful week!  It is still hot here but the light is softening and I just know that fall is coming!  ;-)  I have been in the mood to play house but don't want to spend very much or if any money!  So what does one do when one gets the urge to freshen up her surroundings but without spending anything?  One raids closets, and goes under beds, and searches drawers - that's what said one does!

I have had the upstairs guest room white and serene for awhile and while it was pretty, it never called my name to come back and continue loving on it.  Hmmmm ..... perhaps it was the one room that I strayed from my true love of color and pattern?  Yes, as the light bulb went off in my head AND heart - that is why!  I am keeping the walls white but I am filling the room with all things color and pattern and I am loving it so far!  This space will embrace my inner boho spirit, which believe me, is even stronger now than ever!  I don't think I have ever shared the tiny bathroom in there before but you can see it above. I will add some red in here.  The gold vintage drapes were a Goodwill score and I hung them yesterday using a hammer and just three tiny nails. I love the little sink in there too.  Anywho, the rest of the images are from the rooms that you have seen.  My poor office needs to be completely redone!  It is small and has no closets so storage is always an issue.  But the vibe in here is so wonderful and I truly feel the energy from so many .... all of the precious cards and notes sent to me over the past 10 plus years of sharing Dear Daisy Cottage are in here, along with the handmade hearts given to me long ago. So many sweet things in here... I always do feel the love.  And that means more to me than you will ever know.

And speaking of love, our fur babies are such a part of our homes and families, aren't they?

 

 

As I often say, I can't imagine life any other way.

Love to you,
Kim

Kisses ....

 

Kisses for baby to be.


xo

A Wonderful Week ...

It has been a wonderful week, inside and out.  Hot, humid, rainy, but beautiful!  I hope yours has been too.


xo

The Time of Our Lives

 

 

How is it the 7th day of June already?  I cannot even wrap my mind around it!  In a blink we are here.  We ring in the  new year and blink, blink, it is summer time.  We inhale, exhale, and wake up to what was once the future.  In an instant.  Or so it seems. 

BUT - as scary or as unsettling as this can often be, this travel in time is denied to so many.  We are here.  Let us NEVER forget that privilege.  And yes, THIS - right here and now - is the time of our lives.


Speaking of right now,  I am really excited about several upcoming things, including a few trips planned for the rest of the year!  One will be to the mountains; one will be to Savannah; one will be to Round Top; and one will be to NYC.  God willing but of course!  You know that I don't often stray from home, so these are big trips to me!  It will be good to have a change of scenery and I know I will come home from each adventure, inspired and refreshed.  I am also going to have a little feature in a publication soon and it looks like I will be on page 16....

And of course I will share with beautiful you when it is on the stands.    :)


It is hot, hot, hot here now - though as I type we are experiencing dark skies and storms from Tropical Storm Colin.  Maggie is on my lap; Bentley is on a quilt, and Marley is at my feet on a rug.  He has lost his hearing, but is adjusting.  Such a sweet boy.  He will be 14 years old on August 1.  

Sigh.  

Yeppers.  This is the time of our lives.  Whatever we are doing; whatever we are seeing; whatever we are living - this is it.  Whatever and whoever we are loving - this is it.  Let the flowers bloom!  Let the birds sing!  Let the ducks quack!  Let our freedom ring!

And no matter where we may roam, may we always be safe and know that there is no place like home.

 

xo

Together ...

To those of you who are having some difficulties, or are in emotional or physical pain, or perhaps on the mend but are just needing a friend  .... PLEASE know that I always keep you in my heart and that all of us here CARE and love you.  You are not alone.  We gift each other with our loving presence in the way that we can in this life. Our thoughts and prayers ripple into the universe to the one and ones intended for.  It is such a beautiful thing.  

And sometimes we just need to be quiet and sometimes we just need to be loud. Sometimes we just need to fill our minds with what we see and then our hearts fill accordingly.  The imagery in our life is so important.  I know that it helps me - what I choose to focus on and seek.  Whether it be family, friends, nature, or all the little things that I love in my home, I have to focus on what makes my spirit happy or at peace.  It is not that we should shield ourselves from the harsh realities of life and live in a cloud but we have to really try to balance the bad and seek the good, whatever that may be for us, as much as we possibly can.  

We have to keep finding the light that lifts.  Does that make sense?  Whether it be our child's face; our dog's eyes; our garden's rose; our love's embrace; our friend's voice - whatever lifts us we must seek.  

For when found in that moment we were infinite.







And we are in this together.  

I love you,

Kim

Random ....

Though the heat is rising, the harsh summer light hasn't arrived yet and everything is still so beautifully lit outside.  I love being on the porch this time of year.  I wish I could get good pictures of the cardinals who love to frequent it but they are too fast for me, as are the butterflies.  How lucky am I that while rocking or swinging on my front porch, there is such precious life two blocks north of me - always beckoning, always blessing.

I am so thankful.

Happy Weekend dear friends.  


xo

 

 

 

Grateful

 

It has been so incredibly beautiful here and I love every bit of it.  We had our neighborhood home tour yesterday, and while Daisy Cottage wasn't on the tour, my next door neighbor's home was AND if you happened to walk by and I happened to be on the porch, and we happened to "connect" with a glance or a smile or a kind word, I invited you in.  It was so wonderful to do that!   I met Barbara and Amy - adorable ladies, and many other sweet and fun souls AND our own dear and beautiful Gail of Georgia came to see me, along with her precious mother, Nellie, and sweet sweet sister, Linda.  They come each year for the home tour and we try to see each other while I volunteer, but the last few years I wasn't home for the tour. Yesterday, however,  I was and I am so thankful that we could spend time together again!  I love each of you girls.... you always are a delight and a treasure and you always make my heart soar.  I also was so happy and surprised to see a dear friend of mine, Jane, walk through my gate with her beautiful friend, Anita. Sigh.  It was truly a heartwarming, soul-lifting, precious precious day.  Love was in the air.... and I am so grateful.

Grateful for blue skies.  Grateful for old and young doggies.  Grateful for color. Grateful for winged spirits. Grateful for new ducklings.  Grateful for Papa Goose. Grateful for flowers.  Grateful for food.  Grateful for friends.  Grateful for all things family and home. Grateful for brand new blooms and the hope that we see when we look up.





Grateful.

Always and forever,
Amen.

Last Weekend ...

 

xo

One Week Later ...

 

Everything is all nice and clean one week after the bridal shower and I am loving it! Now to keep it this way!  Right?  Right!

;-)