Lovely, Common Things

“It’s amazing how lovely common things become,
if one only knows how to look at them.”
~ Louisa May Alcott

 

It’s wonderful to be at home! Do you feel the same way? I have come to love and adore the common, ordinary ways of a simple life.

Sitting in my cozy kitchen, I can hear the beginnings of the spring rain, slowly greening up our fields and yards. There is fresh bread, baking in the oven for dinner. Shepherd’s pie is cooking away in the slow cooker …

There is a mini rose bush in front of me, an indulgent purchase from the local grocery store this morning – how can one resist such a pleasant, cheerful burst of spring? It is even a scented mini rose bush … a little bit of heaven on earth…

 

 

The Lord has blessed us with so many good memories of another winter here on this little island … ice fishing .. skiing for the first time as a family … skating together on the pond in our field … family visits and cozy movie nights… visits from grandparents … We truly love winter and I, too, in some way am a little sad to see it end.

However, as faithful as ever… the seasons change. And life begins a new, fresh chapter. Here we are again, embracing spring! And what a beautiful spring it is …

Fresh life has burst forth on our property –  our turkeys have spring fever and have been laying us the most beautiful eggs … my over wintered geraniums have burst into bloom … little seedlings are growing in windowsills … chicks in the barnyard (and orphans ones inside at times) …

… tiny flowers blooming in the front yard … Lariah’s first chance to walk barefoot this year …

Every day is a good day when I wake up and know I don’t have to leave the house to enter the “world” out there. I truly enjoy being home and on my own property, working away, cleaning up, planting new items and hanging clothes on the laundry line. There’s so much to keep me busy and occupied. I have never understand how some women are enchanted with the outside world. I’ve always been a homebody and will always prefer my cozy nest to the shiny outside world.  Do you feel the same way?

I love to decorate in a way that will make my chores more pleasing and attractive; if you are in the kitchen for most of the day, it’s such a treat to use dishcloths are a pretty and not stained, or to have a nice tablecloth at the lunch setting, to use attractive dishes while you eat and serve your homemade food, to light the candles and put on soothing music – or energizing music that will help you clean and tidy up. If you must do chores, why not do chores with pleasant surroundings?

Yesterday, I planted four more pink climbing rose bushes around the property – in time, they will give me so much joy to see them blooming. We have planted four more lilac bushes this week, as well. When we moved from a few provinces over a few years ago, I even brought my lilac trees and replanted them next to the porch. It takes three to five years before a lilac tree will bloom when starting with a seed – last year was the 7th year and so this year, I hope for so many more blooms!

When we first moved here, I planted a honeysuckle vine outside my kitchen window. The hope is that it will one day grow up across the window so that when I am washing endless dishes on a warm sunny morning, I will be able to open the kitchen window – which is just over the sink – and smell the amazing, sweet scent of honeysuckles.  There are roses at the beginning of the driveway and roses at the walkways … lavender plants planted in my herb garden … bulbs buried in the beds for early spring joy …

 

 

Even at home, one can make their little world beautiful and exciting.  For our family, our home is a little haven from the outside world, the chaos and noise and confusion. I am happy to cook in this home, to clean this home, to tidy up the yard and beautify its surroundings with pretty flowers and gardens. Happy is the mother who can find true rest and joy in her home!

 

“Oh, I can’t describe my home. It is home, and I can’t put its charm into words.”
~ Elizabeth Gaskell,  North and South
April 26, 2024 - 3:44 pm

Gigi Hello dear friend, so good to hear from you. I look forward to having all the flowers grow! P.S. Write soon! 😉

April 25, 2024 - 8:30 pm

Laura Jeanne What beautiful photos. The description of all the lilacs and roses on your property makes me think that a few years from now, it will surely look like heaven on earth!

April 24, 2024 - 7:10 am

Gigi Ana, I always love to hear from you. Enjoy your beautiful day!

April 24, 2024 - 7:10 am

Gigi That’s okay! I’d be curious to know what they taste like, as well!

April 23, 2024 - 6:43 am

Ruthie Oh! I’m sorry. I should have realized about the baby turkeys. I’ll be praying that you will have sweet, little hatchlings to add to the flock.

April 22, 2024 - 7:02 pm

Gigi HOW NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN GIGI I MISSED YOUR POSTS, THEY ARE SO NICE AND INSPIRING WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS IN COMMON. I LOVE TO BE AT HOME MOST OF THE DAY, I GO OUT VERY LITTLE TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, FULL OF EVIL AND ANGRY, SHOUTING, INSULTING PEOPLE, WITH LITTLE OR ALMOST NO PATIENCE, ISN’T IT A HATE-FILLED WORLD WE LIVE IN? I LIKE TO BEAUTIFY MY HOME WITH CRAFTS OR KNITTING THAT I MAKE, CLEANING, COOKING, WASHING, ECT. ECT. EVERYTHING THAT A HOUSEWIFE DOES WHO LOVES HER FAMILY, HER HOME, BUT FIRST OF ALL THE LORD, WHO LEFT US THIS BEAUTIFUL TASK OF BEING A WIFE, MOTHER AND HOUSEWIFE, DON’T YOU THINK SO? I SHARE WITH YOU AND I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF WOMEN WHO PREFER THE MADDING NOISE OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD TO BEING IN A HOME FULL OF NOISES OF CHILDREN RUNNING AROUND THE HOUSE OR THE YARD, THE NOISE OF THE WASHING MACHINE, THE SMELL OF FRESHLY BAKED FRESH BREAD OR DELICIOUS HOMEMADE PIZZAS, IT IS PRICELESS. HOW BEAUTIFUL AND FAST YOUR LITTLE GIRL IS GROWING. BLESSINGS FROM A DISTANCE.

April 22, 2024 - 11:17 am

ANA QUE AGRADABLE SABER DE TI NUEVAMENTE GIGI¡¡¡¡ EXTRAÑABA TUS PUBLICACIONES, SON TAN AGRADABLES E INSPIRADORAS TENEMOS TANTAS COSAS EN COMUN. ME ENCANTA ESTAR LA MAYOR PARTE DEL DIA EN CASA, SALGO MUY POCO AL MUNDO EXTERIOR, LLENO DE MALDAD Y GENTE ENOJADA, GRITONA, INSULTANDO, CON POCA O CASI NADA DE PACIENCIA, ¿NO ES UN MUNDO LLENO DE ODIO EN EL QUE VIVIMOS? ME GUSTA EMBELLECER MI HOGAR CON MANUALIDADES O TEJIDOS QUE HAGO, LIMPIAR,COCINAR, LAVAR, ECT.ECT. TODO LO QUE HACE UNA AMA DE CASA QUE AMA A SU FAMILIA, A SU HOGAR PERO PRIMERAMENTE AL SEÑOR, EL CUAL NOS DEJO ESTA HERMOSA TAREA DE SER ESPOSA, MADRE Y AMA DE CASA, ¿NO LO CREES ASI? COMPARTO CONTIGO Y NO ENTIENDO COMO HAY MUCHAS MILES DE MUJERES QUE PREFIEREN EL MUNDANAL RUIDO DEL MUNDO EXTERIOR A ESTAR EN UN HOGAR LLENO DE RUIDOS DE NIÑOS CORRIENDO POR LA CASA O EL PATIO,EL RUIDO DE LA LAVADORA, EL OLOR A PAN FRESCO RECIEN HORNEADO O DE UNAS RICAS PIZZAS CASERAS, NO TIENE PRECIO. QUE HERMOSA Y RAPIDA ESTA CRECIENDO TU PEQUEÑA. BENDICIONES A LA DISTANCIA.

April 22, 2024 - 11:02 am

Gigi Hello Ruthie, I love that you are getting a new tea towel. 🙂 To be honest, we’ve only just begun to get the turkey eggs and I put them straight into the incubator – so I’m not sure what they taste like. I’d rather have baby turkeys!

April 22, 2024 - 10:23 am

Ruthie This is beautiful as always, Gigi. Your babies are growing so quickly! I do prefer home to the outside world as well. Nothing makes me so happy as to be working in the kitchen, while listening to the family’s laughter from another part of the house.
I think I’ll take your advice to heart & treat myself with a new dish towel, and light a candle for dinner tonight.
Love, Ruthie
P.S. Do turkey eggs taste similar to chicken eggs?

April 21, 2024 - 2:50 pm

Lynnea Yes, Gigi, I do feel the same way – truly there is no place like home! This is such a lovely, inspiring post…I whole-heartedly agree with all that reader Rachel wrote!
With love,
Lynnea

April 20, 2024 - 7:27 pm

Gigi Thank you, Rachel, for your kind words. You have blessed me!

April 20, 2024 - 12:41 pm

Rachel Thank you for capturing and embracing such lovely moments and sharing them with us! God truly is the Giver of all good things; if we could just learn and accept what they are and how to fully appreciate them it seems. Thank you for being a lover of good things and discipling your children in them. So thankful for you brightening the corner where you are and letting it shine out to others who visit. 🙂