A Simple Wish

I came across this a while back. It was originally from A Walton's Christmas Album 1974. I know it's a Christmas wish but I believe we could all use a reminder that it's the simple things in life that make life worth living. 

Hope you all enjoy this as much as I do.

Grandpa's  Wish

Lyrics by Geer, Will - Grandpa Walton

What is Christmas? It is a time when some of your dreams come true. Every year it roles around and takes you by surprise some of the time, especially when you’re as close to a 100 years old as I am. You think...it Can’t be time for another one, but there it is with all it’s hope and joy and the promise of the wishes granted. I bet you wonder what I wish for. What could an old man wish for?

Maybe you think I would wish to be young again. I don’t want that. Being young is a painful thing. Being young and in love to boot, which most young people are, is even more agony. I’ll tell you what I wish. I’d wish for the power to return some of the love that’s been given me. I’d wish the time and place for all that giving could be commemorated like the heart I carved on the tree around your Grandmother’s and my initials. I wish too for more days to my life. Time...time to give to children some of the beauty of this Earth that has been revealed to me. A drop of water is a wondrous thing.



A spade full of earth is a kingdom in itself. A cloud is worth watching as it passes from one horizon to another. A bird building its nest is as wondrous as men building the Pyramid, and any green thing that grows is proof that God exists. It all comes into focus at Christmas. It is a tender time. We grow cautious because we open ourselves to love.

We exchange gifts, but what those presents really say is "I love you." It makes some folks uncomfortable to say or hear these words. Maybe it’s because they’ve never learned the secret of the given heart. There are more takers than givers in the world. People, communities even countries spending their time grubbing and rooting for the goods of this earth like pigs after acorns in the Fall of the year. This is a country with a given heart and I pray it will always be so.

It’s a good country and it’s part of our strength, something that we brought with us as pioneers that we can share with the fellow who is down on his luck, with those who suffered calamities: with the loss of their homes or land or their hope.

This is a family with a giving heart. You children may squabble and bicker among yourselves but you’ve been taught to love and to give, and that’s the greatest present your Momma and Daddy could have given you. So take pleasure in the trappings of Christmas. Be merry like the songs say. Revel in the tinsel and the glitter and the sparkle and sing the old songs for all the joy that’s in them and the memories they bring back. But to touch the real Christmas, to feel the true spirit of the season, look to your own heart and find all the secret treasures that they’re there to give. There is one wish that I make every year. I never said it aloud before, but I’ll tell it to you now.

I wish for all the seasons I have known, endlessly to come and go; the dogwood Spring, the watermelon Summer, the russet and gold of Autumn. I wish for Christmas to come again and for each of us to be here again next year at this time...together, safe, warm and loved as we are at this moment.



-- Blue Ridge Publications


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ8hFtpur3M

To hear it read by Grandpa Walton fast forward to 6:34 minutes.


Until next time,
Heather

What makes me happy

On a cold and rainy day like today it is hard to be up beat and happy. I don't know why but the weather always seems to affect my mood. On a bright sunny day I always seem to have a brighter attitude. Not much bothers me, but on a cold rainy day my mood isn't very bright.

Today is one of those not so bright days.  To try and get me out of my less then bright mood I decided to think about what puts a smile on my face and makes me happy!

I think we all need to remind ourselves what makes us happy! Things are tough out in the world and we need all the happiness we can get.

So here is my list of things that make me smile.

 First thing that comes to mind is my little boy's silly face. No matter what type of day I am having he always makes it a good one!

A  good smelling candle.  Don't know what it is about a good smelling candle but it just puts me in a good mood. I think the scents reminds me of comfort and warmth and those two feelings bring me much happiness.

First flowers of the season always puts a smile on my face.

Of course my family makes me happy.

My wonderful husband! (most of the time ha ha!) and all that he does for me.

Prim Shops always make me happy!



The Rusty Roosta



Walker Homestead

The Brickhouse Craft Shop Millersburg PA



Sadie girl who has always been there to cheer me up.

Making prim goodies

Being home. There's nothing that puts a bigger smile on my face then being home.

Gardening. Just love being outside working in my garden.

Sitting down by the river

Decorating. Usually if I'm in a funk I start rearranging things and suddenly I'm not in a funk anymore!

Okay so I could keep going on and on but I'll stop here! After doing this post I am already in a better mood.

I'd love to hear what makes all of you happy.

Hope everyone has a lovely day today!

Until next time,

Heather



Spring Time Decor

Every time a new season rolls around  I take down the previous season's decor and put up the current season's. I so enjoy decorating and the change of season gives me all the more reason to rearrange and bring out different decor.

Now that it's spring I have brought out my flowers, bird houses, beeskeps and a few other springy things. It's amazing how just a few little new touches can change a room.

Over the years my taste have certainly changed. I used to think if I had a large collection of something the better it looked. Basically I thought the clutter look looked good!

But over the years I have changed over to less is more. I now try and keep things  as uncluttered and simple as I can.
Which isn't always easy when you have an 18 month old who's toys seem to multiply overnight!

From reading blogs and  magazines I have pick up a few hints on how to keep your house looking simple, yet still keep it warm and inviting. Don't know what I would do without blogs or magazines to learn from!

Having a simply decorated house just allows me breath better! I feel calm and relaxed when I am in my home.



 My house is a work in progress and I believe it always will be! My taste may change along the way but I do know one thing that will always stay the same, and that is my house will always be warm, cozy and inviting. A house that are all those things will always be a home. And I always want my house to be a home.

So now that I got the inside of my house looking and feeling like spring, I am so ready for the outside to look and feel like spring!!

Here are  a few pictures of my spring time decor. Hope you enjoy them!!

 

Happy April!! Let's hope these April showers we've been having will bring us some May flowers!!

Have a wonderful day!

Until next time,

Heather

My to do list.....

Everyone has one! A to do list that is, but this to do list of mine is a fun one. It's the things that I want to do and look forward to doing someday.

I guess some would call it a "Bucket List". A list of things to do before we kick the bucket! I sure hope I get to do these well before I kick the bucket!

Nothing on my list is extravagant or even that exciting. It's all the things I would love to accomplish someday.So here it is. My to do list. In no particular order.

#1  Take a trip to thru the Blue Ridge Parkway.



Along the way stopping by to visit Walton's Mountain Museum in Schuyler Virginia. After all the Walton's are one of my favorite shows!  http://www.waltonmuseum.org/


#2  Travel the back roads of New England in the Fall. I'd start in Massachusetts, head up into Maine. Stop at Arcadia National Park (been there once and would love to go back!).
Come  back down thru Maine into New Hampshire and head to Vermont.
I'd probably need the whole Fall season to do this trip! I would want to hit all the country/primitive shops, stay at cozy little inns and eat at all the wonderful restaurants along the way.

#3  Go to the Christmas by the Sea in Ogunquit Maine.


#4  Can my own veggies and make jams. Always wanted to can but never seem to find the time !!





#5  Spend a whole weekend  in bed watching nothing but good movies!

#6  Build a cabin in the woods.


#7  Open a little country/primitive shop.


#8  Learn how to make wood furniture. Like farmhouse tables, shelves, cupboards, birdhouses........
    (This one might just take me my whole life!)

#9  Grow a vegetable garden with lots and lots of pumpkins. Tried many times to grow pumpkins and have  only had one very tiny one ever make it.


#10  Learn how to draw (not sure if this is possible since I do believe you are born with this talent, but what the heck!)


Well that's it for now. Hope I didn't bore you all!
Thanks for stopping by. Would love to hear whats on you "to do list".

Until next time,
Heather