Let the Sunshine In

Oh, it doesn't take much to get the spring fever going in me. It was an absolutely perfect day here in Middle Tennessee. Low 70s, slight breeze. Mmmmmwaaaa! Loved it. I even moved the fish around to enjoy the beautiful rays coming through the windows. Yes, I also cleaned out their bowls. Poor little guys. Hardly had enough water to swim in. I'm a terrible fish owner for the most part.

When I left this morning, I noticed the daffodils are peeking out from the soil, stretching to greet the sun with as much love as us. Yay. That is definitely a sign of spring just around the corner.

I came around back and threw open mom's door to her yard and let that lovely fresh air through her apartment. It was lovely. Even she enjoyed it. While I was there, I took some snaps of her place with all the sun coming in. It's so pretty down there during the afternoon. So nice and cozy when the sun is shining through. (Why are there cafe curtains on the outside of the door you ask? Well, of course, it's because Frankie the dog sees deer and bunnies and Lord knows what else out there and starts barking which then wakes mom up at ungodly hours. This way, he can't see out! Brilliant, eh?)

Even though she had her PJs on already, I didn't say anything. That's ok. I'd like to wear my PJs all day on some days, ya know what I mean? This is her new wing back chair that seems to do the trick. No more falling asleep and falling out. If she does fall asleep, it cradles her. Sweet.

This is a little nook in the corner where she keeps her brother-in-law's old fishing hat, a vintage bulldog hot pad and an old angel I gave to her when I was young.

Her fridge is full of wonderful magnets from various places everyone has visited over the years and pictures of loved ones.

I had cubbies built on the sides of the fireplace in her living room so she could put all her photos out of the family. And that's just what we did. This is Jim's cubby, his daughter Madeleine when she was a baby and Jim's baby shoes. Jim is the one on the right, Johnny is on the left in the little photos.

This is dad's resting place. (I think if mom knew he was here, she'd throw him out--again! haha) His cowboy boots and belt mark it with his personality. I made these little praying hands in Bible School when I was very young. The photo of the young family in front of our house with snow is probably circa 1959, Mom, dad, Johnny and Jim. I wasn't born yet. Perhaps I was still cooking in mom's tummy when this was shot.

The kids in the hippie days! Oh my. Look at all of our hair! Johnny is in the middle, Jim and I are sitting down. I love this photo. Do you remember when scarves were in style in the 70s? UGly! teheh. That's me in the larger photo, probably when I was about 19 or 20. Jim is in the background looking especially proper. These are Johnny's little boots and his monkey too.

My oldest brother Joe's cubby (which happens to be Mary Jane's ex husband) has all kinds of pictures of their kids growing up. They are just adorable! And several shots of Joe and mom there too. The little Mexican sandals are Joe's. Aren't they precious?

And my family's cubby. The boys at various stages in their lives. Awwww. Me in various stages of my life too. Even one of me and the hub before we were married. Awwwwww. And those are my boots on the side there. The story is my Aunt Ollie bought me a pair of red ones but they didn't fit. So when my mom took them back, they only had black in my size. I preferred the red ones myself--as if I remember! ha.

The living room wall is full of our portraits growing up. The bottom right is the teenager when he was one. I wish I had chosen a different color than blue paper to have it drawn on. Looks kinda out of place, doesn't it? That's Jim and John in the double frame. And look at my profile when I was little. I had a double chin BACK THEN! YUCK. There was no chance for me I guess. Then Johnny in the other two. I need to find the other one of Jim somewhere packed away in mom's stuff.

And, of course, our beloved Capitol from the Grant Memorial where we all spent many hours taking photographs for a living. The teenager bought this for me the first year we moved. I was so homesick. It was a sweet thought.

When I went back out to lock up, the moon was already out trying to coax the sun to set. The sun would have nothing to do with it as our days are finally getting longer. That means mom is staying up longer. She may put her pajamas on at 4 in the afternoon, but she doesn't crawl into bed until after 5. I think her sleeping patterns are a little more regular when we have more daylight. When it's dark early, she thinks it's time to go to bed. So, I'm happy that we're getting more daylight these days.

Are your bulbs starting to sprout? I know some of you, out West, already have daffodils. Oh, I can't wait for mine!

And a PS. The hub and I are enjoying our little fun Valentine's note maker. I have it on the front door and he has been pasting a new note up each morning.

Oh SNAP! I keep forgetting to put this up. Snap from Tales from Twisty Lane gave me a sweet award--The Marie Antoinette, Real Woman, Real Award! Isn't that sweet? I can't chose seven out of you who deserve this award more than the other, so consider yourself a recipient. YAY! And thank you so much Snap for such a nice award.

Now let's enjoy the weekend!