A little of this, and a little of that. . .

Hello, dear friends! I am so glad you could come by for a visit. I am sharing a few things around Bunny Cottage that are making me smile today. Flowers from my garden: Rose of Sharon, daylilies, pinks and hydrangea. I must say you must surely love hydrangeas (and I do) to be able to grow them in this Texas heat. I water them of a morning, and they are beginning to droop by the afternoon. I have them planted in mostly shade, too. Oh well, I don't really care because I will always grow some in my garden. Daylilies are such a happy flower, love them. Inside my home, handpainted roses, china, bunnies, vintage linens, tea cups and tea pots. If you notice the sixth picture from the top, you will see a pin cushion my sweet sister Myra made for me for Mother's Day from a vintage sugar bowl. I love this, too. The rabbit in the third picture from the bottom I purchased several years ago in a small, picturesque town in Louisiana. This was the town where "Steel Magnolias" was filmed. He has sat on my mantle and kept me company for some time now. I hope and trust that you each had a lovely weekend as we celebrated Memorial Day and remembered the cost of our freedom that we enjoy so much. Have the best of weeks!! Love and blessings being sent your way!

"I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains."~Anne Frank

To our military heroes and their families. . .

We say "thank you" from the bottom of our hearts!! You have sacrificed so much, some even your own life, so that we could live in freedom in our great land. We salute you!!

www.clermontyellowribbon.com/untilthenflash.htm

Dear friends, enjoy your Memorial Day weekend as we think of our brave men and women who have so proudly served. I am proud to say that I am the mother of two veterans, Jeremy (US Navy) and Aaron (US Army). Love and blessings to you all.

My wishes for our children today. . .

I was just thinking what a magical time it was growing up in the 1950's and early 1960's. How much fun we had during this innocent time using our imagination and playing with our friends. Many of the experiences I had growing up would be my wishes for my grandchildren and all of our children today. These things I would wish for them. . .

*watching Mary Martin as Peter Pan on tv and being sure you could fly the next day if you only believed hard enough

*finding a little dead bird in your grandmother's backyard and having a funeral service for it with your cousins, complete with sermon, hymns, prayers and kleenex flowers to cover the shoebox the little bird was placed in

*catching fireflies on a warm summer evening

*making flower garlands for your hair

*playing jacks, jump rope and hopscotch

*eating homemade ice cream and ice cold watermelon at a family picnic (and when I say family, I mean the whole family, aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents)

*going to a Saturday afternoon matinee for 25 cents and watching "Ma and Pa Kettle" or "The Three Stooges"

*Friday night sleepovers with your best friend and watching "Weird Theater" on tv (usually something with Vincent Price) and hiding your eyes and being scared to death

*buying a beautiful diamond or pearl ring at the five and dime store and then watching your finger turn a shade of green

*making smores around a campfire

*wanting to be just like Hayley Mills as she starred in those wonderful Disney movies

*crying for "Old Yellar" and cheering for Dorothy to find the city of Oz and being scared stiff by those flying monkeys

*riding your bike like the wind as you followed a rainbow to try and get to the end of it, being sure there were leprechauns and a pot of gold at the end

*playing softball at school recess and not really keeping close score because everyone was playing "just for the fun of it"

*going to Vacation Bible School and looking forward to that kool aid and homemade cookies, also painting those plaster of paris molds to give to your mother who always hung them somewhere in the house with pride

*playing hide and go seek with the neighborhood kids on a hot summer night until your parents called you because it was time to go home

*not really a care or worry in the world because we always knew Mighty Mouse would "come to save the day"

Thank you, sweet friends, for stopping by today. May those times of innocence and fun always be in our hearts as we share happy times with our own children and grandchildren. Love to each and every one of you.

Through the garden gate. . .

Hello, dear friends, come on through my garden gate. We can sit and drink a glass of ice cold mint tea while we visit. It always brightens my day when you come by. We may see a butterfly float by on golden wings or perhaps hear the flutter of a sweet hummingbirds wings. I hope you are having a good day full of God's beauty and blessings. . .

May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow.

May the soft winds freshen your spirit.

May the sunshine brighten your heart.

May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you.

And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.

Friends are the flowers in life's garden. . .

May I always recall and be thankful
For help along the way,
For the unseen helpers who shaped me
Into the person I am today.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

Dear friends, I am convinced that we do not always realize the impact we have on other people's lives. Sometimes our smile or hug will be the only one received by those around us. Thank you for your friendship and for the impact your sweet lives have had on my life.

A Woman of Faith. . .

I write this post this evening in praise of my mother, Ressie Roween (Russell) Smith. She has been my guiding light and the one I look to pattern my life after. She had a strong and deep abiding faith in God and was one of the strongest persons I have ever known. Hers was a quiet strength. She never drew attention to herself but rather always looked to see how she could help someone else. My mother, my sister, my grandmothers, my aunts, and the sweet women in the church where I grew up. . . all of these ladies have helped to form and shape me into the person I am today. I thank them for this. Many of these ladies, like my mother, have gone on to heaven. However, I feel their presence daily and remember the life lessons they have taught me
so well. I have always said if I could just be half the mother my mother was to me, I would be a tremendous success. I love you, momma!

Thank you, sweet friends, for dropping by. And for all mothers everywhere, thank you, dear ones. Sending much love to each and every one of you.