pappa

Traveling is tough on us sometimes.

Imagine being 90 and traveling into Phoenix summertime weather.

It. Is. Exhausting.

Yet the heart wants to go and visit.

Take sauna, drink coffee and eat pulla.

He and Joe spent part of the weekend with us.

Memories.

Isn't that why we take photos?

So we can relive the days that are either too full for our heart to capture

or so very painful that we aren't able to.

Yet, we can look through the photos afterward and relive little pieces at a time.

We aren't really a people that needs to fill our life with nonstop activity.

We are busy people, I don't deny that.

We certainly enjoy discovering new places and experiences.

But we most enjoy visits of the heart.

Time spent with our loved ones in quiet conversation.

Those are the times that warm our hearts.

Those are the moments we treasure while we still can.

creativity

cre·a·tiv·i·ty

• the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work

She might be mine

If you take a close look at this photo, you're going to find any manner of craziness.

Once in a while I open the door and Sebastian, aged 4, walks in.

The other house was even worse/better.

He walks in, stands still, looks around and says "cool!"

We quickly exit and close the door.

Our youngest daughter was planning her move away.

In some ways, she isn't me at all.

I plan and pack well in advance.

I work at things slowly because I have many irons to take care of.

Even then, my irons aren't always hot when they need to be.

This one? Not so much. 

And at the same time .... oh, so very much.

She was sewing some princess dresses for a few little special girls.

No pattern.

No sewing experience.

Sheer determination.

They were delivered before she handed me her gate clicker.

And they were darling.

She just asked me for a sewing machine for birthday/Christmas. 

They were done before her room was packed.

Sounds a little familiar.

As much as I was ready to pull my hair out at the undone parts of moving .... 

I had to silently fist pump this child of mine.

Cuz I get it.

Oh, do I get it.

Have you been to Ikea?
Those big blue bags?
Yup.
Shoes for days.

All of a sudden it was here.
The waiting was over for her.
Brock flew in on Thursday ...

Friday morning they drove out of the yard.

I really wanted to cry.
I did want to.
I think this is it.
The moving on.

Instead of crying, I took my pen and started writing about birds.
I wrote of eagles soaring.
My heart is full at its lifting.
My heart rejoices in its flight.

Maybe there were a few tear shaped raindrops that kissed the eagles wings as she glided.

love him

he jumped on the swing

that is tied to a bolt very high up in the tree

come swing with me, he said

it didn't go so well

i promptly fell off

we figured it out

we've been figuring it out for nearly 33 years

we still like each other

like lots

we are two incredibly lucky people 

rest in peace dear Mummu

Her fight is finally over.

God has called her home.

We lost our dear mother, mother in law, grandmother and great grandmother.

Her struggle with health issues is over

and she is finally resting in peace.

The Finnish flag flew at half staff in her honor.

She leaves behind this dear family, along with their spouses and the next two generations.

This is the first time I have been to a funeral where we were able to walk to the cemetery directly following the service.

It was absolutely beautiful.

In the short time we were there, complete darkness descended.

Jari and I with our children and their spouses.

Unfortunately, Alyx's husband wasn't able to be with us.

What an incredible comfort they are to their dad.

We are so blessed. 

We are also blessed to yet have these lovely parents still on earth with us.

May their pathways be gentle.

May God carry Pekka through his grief until he is reunited with his beautiful bride.

Thank you for remembering us.

Pray for strength for our dear Pappa.

china cabinet in the making

The wooden cabinet in the background of this photo lived outdoors at our other house. Although I would have dearly loved to bring it inside, there just wasn't a space for it. So on the patio it lived. It was filled with paint, stain, cordless electric tools and that kind of stuff.

Now I have a place for it to live! He really didn't want to believe me, but he pressure washed it one day. Gently. Too close and it would have needed some serious sanding. From everything I could find on Pinterest, outdoor furniture made of teak wood (and I'm not really sure that's what this is) is scrubbed with dishsoap and steel wool or the like to clean it. He really was amazed after the pressure washing job. We let it dry out until we had time to attack the thing. 

Out came the innards that were made for storing wine bottles and glasses. 

Someone had suggested a long time ago that we spray it with teak oil. Use a small sprayer like you would for spraying bugs or weeds and apply several coats of oil. Being as the oil has been sitting under the kitchen sink for nigh on two years ... and I had an extra brush .... I started brushing. The oil can said it shouldn't be used in over 95 degree temp. In my mind that ruled out the outdoors. It is croaking hot right now in our world.

I started this project .. and finished it .. inside. Oh. My. Gosh. Don't do that if you can avoid it. I finally propped the front door open with a box fan that I unearthed in the garage. Cranked down the air conditioner and hoped it would blow out some of the fumes. Bad stuff.

This photo may have a little filter application off my phone. Just a little. Even if it is exaggerated, look at the difference! One coat of liberal high smelling oil! I was a bit worried about the bottom of it. It had seen water outside and there was staining from the nails at the bottom. I seriously thought it was going to bug me big time. It doesn't. I just look at the glass I've placed up on top and I don't care about the bottom!

The bottom portion of the cabinet has a shelf in it. The top needed one. I ran to the favorite Home Depot where I rifled through the pile of 1x12 to find one that might be considered straight. That has got to be one of the most irksome things ever. Crooked wood for sale at premium prices. Got those cut with my trusty cordless Makita cordless saw, along with the 1x2 pieces that the shelf was going to lay on. They were stained outside (like what was the point of that?!) and drying while I did the oiling business inside.

I get these little pojects lined up and then say, "hon ....?" He hops right to it and voila! Shelves went in with the brad nailer and it was good to dry and continue stinking up the house.

I have a lot of pretty dishes. Many I use. Many I don't. All of them won't live in here, but the ones I do use ... they've moved in. There are more in boxes in the garage that I'll need to sift through at some point. Pick what stays out there and what comes in.

The only problem with this cabinet is that I can't see inside it. My plan is to remove the center panels of the top doors and replace them with something I can see through. My dream has sort of been chicken wire. Eventually, the wall behind this cabinet will be shiplap. I think the country look should work, but there will be dust. I don't like dust and I like cleaning it even less. I really do not want to move every little pretty thing to remove dust bunnies. Not anymore than I absolutely have to. Which means ... they will probably be glass. Maybe both. One layered over the other. In any case, it really isn't high on my priority list at the moment. There are other things driving me a wee bit crazier than the doors on this cabinet.

I'll get back to them and share what I decide to do .. at some point!

wordless wednesday