Miss Manners
When I was a little girl my parents and teachers drilled the importance of good manners into me, as did the parents and teachers of many, if not most, children in those days. It was a given that I...
View ArticleWashing Dishes
I spent this morning unpacking, washing, and putting away my mother’s American Beauty china. It was a meditative time as I stood at the kitchen sink gently washing, rinsing, and drying each dish....
View ArticleA Disturbing Trend
I don’t remember how old I was the first time someone in a store called me ma’am. I do know that I was young enough to be horrified as I didn’t feel anywhere near old enough to be deserving of that...
View ArticleHappy Anniversary, Gerry
Fifteen years ago today, on a sunny April morning, Gerry and I were married. It was a small and simple ceremony, at that even larger than I would have chosen had it been up to me alone. My soon-to-be...
View ArticleBlog Anniversary: A look back, a look ahead, and a giveaway!
On August 3, 2008 I published my first post on a blog I called My Own Velvet Room. Blogging was a relatively new thing and many blogs had all manner of bells and whistles, music, and flashing images....
View ArticleMonday, September 19, 2016
“You feel fine, and then, when your body can’t keep fighting, you don’t.” ~ Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember “By morning I was worn out. My limbs felt heavy as wood, my head cottony. I might’ve felt...
View ArticleTaking Time For One’s Self
For the past few years I’ve worked a flex schedule that allows me to take every second Friday off. I hold those days sacred, “protect the flex” becomes my mantra when I look around at the work on my...
View ArticleMiss Manners
When I was a little girl my parents and teachers drilled the importance of good manners into me, as did the parents and teachers of many, if not most, children in those days. It was a given that I...
View ArticleWashing Dishes
I spent this morning unpacking, washing, and putting away my mother’s American Beauty china. It was a meditative time as I stood at the kitchen sink gently washing, rinsing, and drying each dish....
View ArticleSunday, January 22, 2017
“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” ~ Maya Angelou, Celebrations: Rituals of Peace...
View ArticleFriday, January 27, 2017
“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” ~ William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice Today is my birthday. Yesterday, Gerry mentioned the fact to his 96-year-old mom who is, of course,...
View ArticleSaturday, February 11, 2017
“I think insomnia is a sign that a person is interesting.” ~ Avery Sawyer, Notes to Self I must be a very interesting person this week. I suppose, looking on the bright side, that it’s been delightful...
View ArticleThursday, March 3, 2017
“Wisdom comes with winters” ~ Oscar Wilde Life, like this fading flower, takes on a unique beauty at a certain point when the brightness of youth fades. It’s wonderful. We settle into ourselves, we...
View ArticleTuesday, March 15, 2017
“I believe in the magic and authority of words.” ~ René Char There is a woman named Betty who lives in the care home with my mother-in-love who does not speak. She is 99-years-old and has some dementia...
View ArticleThursday, March 16, 2017
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” ~ Charles Dickens, Great Expectations Still bristling over a...
View ArticleFriday, March 17, 2017
“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.” ~ Voltaire Yesterday, when I was going to throw out the tulips, I couldn’t help notice the unique beauty of...
View ArticleWednesday, April 12, 2017
“Without darkness, nothing comes to birth, As without light, nothing flowers.” ~ May Sarton I feel a sharpness in my chest as I realize it’s Wednesday: mid-week and nearly mid-month. I think of all the...
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