Springing forward into a new year...

Did ya'll hate loosing that hour of sleep as much as I did when we changed the clocks? I am still trying to catch up now. But I do have to say that extra daylight in the evening is well worth it as we start the new year. Yes, it is the beginning of a brand new year - the beginning of my 55th year on earth because as of today is my 54th birthday! I know, I know, some of you are saying "I can't believe you are telling your age!" I know age is a very sensitive issue with some women and I am sad our society has programmed us that way - that so many women feel they have to erase those years or omit those years or even lie about those years. I feel this way about it. I earned each and every one of those years and every wrinkle and gray hair. I say celebrate what you have accomplished in your life. Don't shy away from it. All of us have faced ups and downs and we should be proud of where we are come our birthday. This year I will celebrate 34 years of marriage, I have a 30 year old son, and an almost 28 year old daughter and I will be called Grammy (yup that's my new name) in the not so distant future so today I celebrate each and every moment of these 54 years. Yes indeed, I earned them! And lucky for me, the celebration has already begun. I have received many cards in the mail and some sweet presents as well. Yesterday my dear friend Chris took me to lunch. This morning I have a manicure and tonight, my DH arranged for the kids and my parents to join us for a birthday celebration at a wonderful steak house. I think spending the evening with my family is the perfect way to celebrate my birthday. And as I celebrate , I am reminded of this email that goes around from time to time. I am sure many of you have seen this. I have taken bits and pieces of it to share with you. I do not know the author so I apologize for not giving credit. And while I don't consider myself old by any stretch, much of what this says still applies to how I feel about being 54...
*The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.
Old Age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And sometimes I am taken aback by that person that lives in my mirror but I don't agonize over those things for long. I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.
As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will. They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the import ant things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?
But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).
And tonight, I will eat dessert!

The last time I was here I promised you some photo's of the limited spring decorating I do Behind My Red Door so here you are.

Preserved lemons in a jar in my baking corner and my new berry bowl from Jill.

Peter Rabbit Kindra's Spring Blocks on my dough board
Peter's girlfriend on my sewing box
Pot of herbs on my desk
Forsythia on the dry sink

Prim eggs and carrots in the trencher
Large prim bunny on the bucket cupboard
Pussy willows in the dining room
Chalkware bunnies in the kitchen
Wool egg hanging from the settle bench
Wool pillow on the settle bench
Forsythia in the foyer
And last, but not least...another wool applique bunny

Now for a little blogging business...

In the last several weeks I have received many questions about things such as the source for stencils, doorknobs, paint colors, what paint techniques I use, the recipe for something, how to instructions, etc. I have tried very hard to personally answer them all and I am flattered you ask and more than happy to do that, but sometimes I have no way to contact someone who asked the question. I don't want to answer them in a post so if you don't have a blog on Blogger that I can directly link to from your profile, please leave me your email address so I can indeed get back to. If you don't want that made public, just tell me and I will be happy to not publish it. If you are signed up with a blog profile but have no blog or you are an anonymous poster or your blog is private, I don't see your email address when you comment so I have no way to contact you either so please leave your email address if you want an answer to a specific question. Thanks!

Most of you can skip this part..... and how about being nice about your request? The majority of the requests are thoughtful and considerate of the time and effort it takes me to get you the answers. But recently I have gotten a few requests from bloggers that I don't even know, who then list the questions they want answered without so much as an introduction or a please or thank you. Where did manners go? As I said, I am more than happy to share my information with you so please be considerate of my time and I'll be happy to answer your questions. Thanks so much!!

And also on my mind...
If you would like to 'borrow' one of the photographs from my blog, or albums, please ask me first and then please give me credit as well. I spend precious time taking and uploading my photo's so that is the least you can do if you want to use one on your blog. Thank you for that consideration.

And because it is Whatcha Working on Wednesday over at Leslie's, My Country Home, I will share something I have been working on - why tweaking of course! I needed something on the bench at the foot of our bed and I came up with this. Old linens, books and a bandbox with pure beeswax candles and a little wool rag ball. I love the soft colors.

Well folks, it's time to get out the door... next time I come back, I'll have some pics to share of a really great colonial home and my Easter tree.
Until Next Time - Hugs, Linda