My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Memories of Home in a Peach Orchard House for Pink Saturday 4/14/2012

First of all, I want to give you just a teensy little look at one of the items in my giveaway this month. It's been such a long time since I've done a giveaway for the aprons that I decided I'm in a good enough mood to do it again, not aprons but something else. There will be another item or two in with this. I'm not showing what it is in its entirely yet so just think what it could be. However, if you've been around my blog the last couple of years, it should be easy to guess. ;-)

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Welcome to Pink Saturday once again. Today I'm telling a story so read on. But first, go visit with Beverly's blog and see all the other participants. I'm sure you'll like it and if you're not a follower, please be one so you won't miss anything exciting I may post. I'd sure love it if you would! I'm planning on a giveaway soon and, trust me, you're not going to want to miss out on it. ;-) That's all I'm going to say on the subject.
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There will be more on this lovely photo also. You'll be as excited as I am. Trust me on this one.
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My father was a Naval officer. We traveled a lot, but he traveled more than we did as a family. When he would be gone for an extended length of time, we would usually go stay with my maternal grandparents. I dearly loved my grandma so it was a treat to live with her and grandpa. I remember them living in different states and cities. And since my grandpa was a railroad conductor, my grandma would take me on train rides—overnight train rides. That's why I love taking trains so much to this day even. Sad that trains are going the way of the dinosaur. Those were fun trips, really fun.

But one time that we stayed with them, my grandparents had just built a brick home in a small town across the Ohio river from West Virginia. My brother and I enrolled in the school there but my sister was not school age yet. It was in a peach orchard. We loved it. A new friend and I would ramble through the orchard on little paths that took us away from the prying eyes of adults. We'd find things to explore. It was there I found a plant called sassafras that surprisingly smelled like root beer. That was my entry into the botany world. But we had great times until we eventually had to move when my father came home from his assignment on ship.

However, my mother always told us not to tell anyone we lived in a peach orchard! I was stymied by this, but I learned later she was actually embarrassed that my grandparents would build in a peach orchard. In today's world, most people would pay dearly for a huge peach orchard in which to build their home. Oh, and the house was a beautiful one-story brick. I never understood her embarrassment about that home. I just remember sitting out with my grandpa and he would peel peaches with his pocket knife and give me, my brother and sister little slices of just-picked-from-the-tree peaches. It was a magnificent world to me then. I get weepy just remembering that time of my life. I was so happy. In fact, while writing this post an eerie, yet pleasant, feeling just swept through my body. I think it is my grandma telling me she loves me too.

Just a sweet memory.

Now look at all these gorgeous photos and see if one of the photos evoke a memory for you.
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Violets also remind me of my grandma because she always grew them and we picked them together.

I cannot resist a photo of flowers, old buildings and quaint water fountains.


I want and shall have a Meyer lemon tree in a pot soon. I don't think this is a lemon tree but I like it anyway.


An elegant and cozy sun room.

An unusually beautiful and inviting entrance to a home.


STYLE!




Beautiful dining room with a stunning view.

I guess if you have it, flaunt it?!


Do you notice the red stove?


Again, just look at what a coat of beautifully-colored paint can do for a laundry room.
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Random Thoughts:

Whatever happened to "thank you" and "you're welcome"? Now it's "no problem". What in the world does that mean? Welcome is the proper response. I don't think I ever say "no problem" and I always say "thank you".
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Don't marry a man or woman unless you would be proud to have a son or daughter exactly like him or her.
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Never try to feel smart when you are stuck in stupid! Just realize your mistake, don't make excuses, apologize and go on graciously. Personal experience! Yep.
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Terrorists are all martyrs until they get shot in the leg and then they squeal like pigs.
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I want the cell phones the CounterTerrorismUnit used on 24. They never ran out of battery charges.
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A middle school close to us had a reader board that advertised Free Dental Sealant. What is that that the schools have to give free dental work now? I have no dental insurance and pay my way, but I certainly don't get free sealant when I visit my dentist. I have on occasion "bargained" with my dentist though.
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Ear buds help parents strengthen their vocal cords.
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Our youth are forgetting how to write because they are wired with phones. Taking those shortcuts with texting is making them stupid or, at the very least, stunting their writing skills along with spelling. Trust me on this one. I see it frequently.
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Photos courtesy of tumblr and pinterest.

20 comments:

  1. Hi there...stumbled across your blog and loved all your gorgeous pics.

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  2. Connie...my dad was also a Naval officer. We stayed with our Auntie and Uncle when he was gone. My dad had a peach orchard when he retired.
    LOVE all your photos. (())

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  3. Hi Connie,
    Big SQUISHY HUGS to you!!!
    LOVED your post and I think I could write a book as a response! OH YES, I too have WONDERFUL MEMORIES. My Mom is from NORTHERN Maine and they were farmers... BIG BIG farms! When we visited there "I (((LOVED))) every moment! I grew up in a city and NEVER KNEW "Fireflies" until we headed north to this MAGICAL PLACE of Memories! and YUP! "It's why I garden and LOVE IT SO"! When my 3 sons were little we lived on farm LAND and I had massive veggie gardens. It was WIDE OPEN space so it was PERFECT for it. NOW in my cottage I am surrounded by thick forests and LOVE the wildlife as much as my garden(which SHARE my bounty). Therefore I do not veggie garden any more. I can't even feed the birds in the summer DUE TO "My Bears"!
    I agree with ALL your RANDOM THOUGHTS... I get ANGERED sometimes at how RUDE things have gotten! I truly enjoy doing things for others and not expecting anything in return. BUT somehow simple generosity has become "LOST IN TRANSLATION"! All we ask for is a smile, or even a nod would do...
    I STRONGLY "DISLIKE" the gadgets everyone walks around with... They are MISSING out on the world and it's beauty... I told my Hubby the other day I am "SICK" about the fact that employees are "PAID" to be on their cellphones. If I ever have a shop. NO ONE will be allowed to have a cell phone on them.
    I'm excited to hear you are going to part with an "APRON"!!! LOVE,LOVE,LOVE!!!
    Thank you Connie for the beautiful post and all the memories... I WOULD LOVE to live in a PEACH ORCHARD!
    Have a wonderful weekend,
    Donna

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  4. Loved your story about your grandparents. The photos are fantastic and I especially enjoyed all the different mirrors.

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  5. Always love to visit with you....lots of eye candy and a beautiful story too.
    HPS
    Michelle

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  6. What a great post Connie ... loved all the pics (especially the cottage) enjoyed your words of wisdom and agree that some of this "wired" generation is very much in need of an education in spelling and getting a "real" life!! As much as I enjoy the 'puter, I can quite easily do without a cell phone.

    Also have the naval connection - dad, brother and hubby ... now grandson is thinking seriously.

    Will be following your blog closely.

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  7. Lovely pics!
    Visiting from Show and Tell Friday :)

    Greetings from Australia♥
    ~Pernilla

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  8. Hi Connie,
    Your sweet great grand is a little darling and has grown since I last saw her pic. Just too adorable and congrats on the next one too.
    Lovely memory from the past and your grandparents. Great pics you share, full of wonderful inspiration. Thank you for stopping by for a visit. So nice to see you.

    Have a blessed weekend.
    Hugs, Celestina Marie

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  9. love the idea of living in a peach orchard. I love the pictures.

    Heather

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  10. Connie...You are a riot and I came to love you immediately!! I agree to everything you said accept that I'm always late and trying to hoenestly do better. I told my husband to make sure my casket was brought in late at my funeral and he said that is the one time I will be on time. (smile) I too am LDS and a stay at home mom and grandmother of 34....next month 35. No greats yet. And I still have one unmarried daughter at BYU. So... Southern Idaho is dusty. We moved here to Utah from Texas and love it. but then we loved Texas too. But Texas can be very dusty:)

    Well... I am now following you. I love your photos, your blog and your philosphies. You're my type of person. Glad to meet you girl!

    Nann

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  11. PS Came here from Pink Saturday.

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  12. Praying you are having a wonderful week-end...so good to be visiting each one of you...Happy Pink Saturday!!!!!!
    Come by and visit
    My Sweet Prairie Home....
    God Bless You !!!!! Kandy

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  13. What a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pics.
    D

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  14. O, Connie girl...you always come up with the most delightful images. Where in the world do you find such eye candy?

    And, living in a peach orchard...oh, my...heavy sigh....:))

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  15. I started reading and I stopped...I went downstairs grabbed some coffee and came back to enjoy reading and looking at your beautiful pictures. I was born in Italy and we moved to the US when I was 3. We basically lived in the same neighborhood near my grandparents and have so many memories of my Dad and grandfather planting everything in their gardens. My dad still at 82 has so many fruit trees and vegetables growing. Not many people still do that. And you are right no more please thank yous or manners. It is very rare when you hear any of those. I love visiting your blog you take me to so many different places thoughts and memories! Have a wonderful weekend. Grace xoox

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  16. What a wonderful memory Connie! You are so blessed. You blog is lovely.
    Happy Pink Saturday!

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  17. Hi! Just beautiful pics!

    grest post!

    Happy pink saturday!

    xoxo

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  18. I'm going around visiting everyone on today's PINK SATURDAY list.....with my hot cup of coffee, of course! Just wanted to let you know that I was here! Have yourself a great weekend, and stop by my place if you've the time!

    ciao bella
    Creative Carmelina
    xo

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  19. Hi Connie! That fabric you assembled for the giveaway is breathtaking and the colours in that collage are like a magnet for me! Stories about grandparents are always so interesting. Yours seemed like wonderful people. My Grandmother loved African violets and she kept them on her window sill.

    I just love the entrance to that home. Don't you just love crystal chandeliers in an ecclectic decor like the one in the sunroom, the bedroom with the white iron bed and the laundry room?!!

    Thank you for always sharing words of wisdom at the end of your posts and for the dream photos! I always look forward to your posts.

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  20. Hi Connie, You always have such sweet stories! I would love a home in a peach orchard - I can't think of anything more lovely. Happy Pink Saturday. ~Marti

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.