"...out here in the stillness, I find my house of worship
with column trees and canopy of stars,
Here in my cathedral." ~Chris Rice from the song, My Cathedral
Sometimes I think of movies that have touched my heart, that I've seen in the Thanksgiving and Christmas Season. This movie came to mind recently, so I treated myself to the dvd set of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors along with the sequel.
Wow. I haven't cried watching a movie in a long time, and this is one of those movies that made me cry in places, I mean several hankies worth. There are parts that just strummed the heartstrings something mighty.
The little girl who plays the part of a young Dolly resembles soooo very much our youngest daughter when she was little, the way she talked, her mannerisms, her nature. Even the little blue checked dress... Yep, that was our Grace. I smile...
I could relate to Mrs. Parton, Dolly's mother in little ways too. Yes, I get her in many little ways. We moms make a lot of sacrifices don't we?
The movie has a sweet, precious ending. The entire movie is sweet and precious.
Our Grace now? She is a young woman here at home, an artistic photographer who has a lot of me in her. All of my girls have bits and pieces of Jem and I in them, and it's so fun to see them as adults! Rebecca is that artistic one. She can tell a fake from a fraud in two seconds flat! Haha. I remember my dad saying that when he and I argued it was like he was arguing with himself. smile Grace sat with Jem and I, watching this precious movie last night, it was really nice. ...Just really nice.
If you see the movie, or have seen it and would like to treat yourself to a refresher of sorts, I think you'll enjoy the movie and also be most touched by it.
So many young people and older people have had disappointments in life, in churches in people...So I really think this movie fits the bill for all if we're honest and part of the beautifully broken, the Companionship of Brokeness. I say beautifully broken because I think God, if we trust Him, in His caring and loving way can put us all together like a....Like a Tiffany lamp. The Beauty of His Light will shine forth if we let it, giving to others and letting the gentle Light shine in a sweet way.
I wanted to get this blog up quickly because Dear Ones, I really think you would enjoy the movie for the holidays.
I purchased the double set of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors and the sequel, Christmas of ManyColors, Circle of Love from Walmart.com and I'm so glad I did! The sequel, Christmas of Many Colors, Circle of Love. Can't wait for another night to watch this one too!
Hope you all are doing well. So many blessings to be thankful to God for...It's the Eternal.
That is why this old world?....Ain't enough. ~Dolly's mother
A crazy shot of me and Grace having a good ol' time on a very cold winter's day last year after her doctor's appointment thus the scratch on her poor little nose. (I hope you don't mind me posting this Rebecca!) She is really sweet with her new little angel-nephews, Timmy and Jimmy:
Today is Veteran's Day and we remember those who serve and protect us and many who gave life and limb for us. I just love them. Man, when I run into these guys at the store I usually make a beeline for them to thank them for their service. When my daughters were little girls they each made little red construction paper booklets and they decorated them with patriotic stickers and such. When we'd go to any patriotic ceremony we would receive autographs from our vets. I just love'm.
This is Janie's trip to Hawaii for the Pearl Harbor anniversary: Pearl Harbor Survivors with our Oldest Daughter This is more of Janie's trip with 'Uncle Bob'. He was honored by President Trump not long ago. Lea still talks to him on the phone...What a sweetheart! Talk about a good attitude! Uncle Bob has it, you will see him giving Lea dancing lessons!:
My mom and dad probably around 1954 or so. I miss my daddy this time of year... and I miss my most precious stepdad, Al who received the Purple Heart and never even spoke of it.
A photo I found of my dad at Gulfport Military Academy as I was cleaning my home studio here, and found this on the floor of all places. (This is what clutter does, it edges out what is important and things we cherish on the floor in one way or the other.) Clutter is an enemy.
Dad (left) was a Captain and was so very handsome I think.
Jem and I love going to the WWII museums. We've gone to the one in New Orleans and now several times to the Pacific War Museum in Fredericksburg. I highly recommend! The Pacific War Museum is a wonderful value by the way. Just loads of things to see, learn, listen to those old voices...Tremendous museum!
............................................................................ Well, I'm doing pretty good. How about you dear readers? Yesterday when we were at the Walmart in Farmtown I was so blessed to talk with two separate ladies in the Christmas department.
- Robert Stock
Both of them were so eager to share and talk. The first lady knocked the entire front of her buggy into the aisle cap and apologized. I told her no worries, we all do it! (it's true!) Haha! She tells me she has a lot on her mind. I told her I understand, me too. It's a lot to pray about isn't it? I later saw her again on another Christmas aisle and she started the conversation and we discussed Christmas bulbs and which ones she should get. Then there was another lady who came up looking for Minnie mouse ornaments because her daughter was able to have a baby after years of disappointments so the little toddler girl will be celebrated by a pink Minnie mouse theme this year. I noticed the lady had a long cross around her neck. We just hit it off...I told her maybe find some wrapping paper and cut the pictures of Minnie and glue them on cardboard and decorate...She tells me of ornaments she would make from the past...We end with a heartfelt and eyeball to eyeball God bless you. You may say, Well, I'm an introvert. Well, this may shock you but I have introvert tendencies but you cannot tell it when I'm visiting with someone I'm enjoying conversation with. My personality initials are INFP if that tells you anything. I do love people and I just want to smile and be Jesus to them by action. People just aren't like that anymore it seems but I want to be that way to others and it's great! It's no scary commitment, except for privately praying for that person and hopefully them for me, it's like being an anesthesiologist, you deal with people in pain many times and give them a shot of goodness with a big toothy grin but then you move on to others and maybe, just maybe you'll see those folks again on another day! -Robert Stock
Well, it's time for me to sign off. I'm trying desperately to get my home studio in order. Oh my goodness, you just cannot imagine what I'm finding in there....After years of homeschooling and such, the room became a catch-all for everyone. I'm finding all kinds of things plus sewing projects, paints, brushes, drawings, old, old photographs, books and more books. I cannot tell you how many times I've stood there in the past few days, wide-eyed and said outloud...Oh my gosh!
(No offense to Marie Kondo, I just thought this was really, really funny!)
Last but definitely not least, here's some of that old music greatness... Many of these old songs were actually written for the WWII generation as they hoped and prayed and prayed and hoped as a nation for our young men.
Getting ready for some thanksgiving menu plans too. And you?
Thanking God for our Veterans, past and present!
-Robert Stock
Signing off from The Forest Cathedral. Good afternoon, Loves, ~Amelia
Do we try to understand others? I thought the little film below was timeless, I showed my husband and he too thought it was very good. I think we know how things like this can be. There are so many kinds of snobberies and injustices around, insider-outsider, better than others, reverse snobbery, name dropping brands, acquaintances... you name it. (Hows that for a quip..haha, you name it referring to name-dropping!)
I grew up in a town that was very nice in the way that newcomers were treated, the people who lived there were good and decent people. There was a problem though. NASA moved in and us oldtimers were suddenly snubbed by many of the newcomers! I won't bore you with details at this time, hopefully I will never bore you! *smile*
It was a privilege and fascinating to grow up the way I did in so many ways, it trained me to love all and to accept all people. I didn't realize it at the time though.
Here are two postcards from our family business on the bay.
This was my German grandparent's business on the bay, it was considered a resort and many from Houston and surrounding would spend their time here. There was paper bill money hanging from the ceiling from all over the world, there were airplane models hanging from the ceiling, there was an Egyptian mummy that an anthropologist traded my grandfather a plane ticket for. There were real monkeys and just all kinds of neat stuff. There were boat shows with young ladies water skiing for show. My mom and dad later owned this place and I can tell you the people who would come here were from all walks...
There was precious Spook, he was a hobo looking man, very fair with almost pink pasty coloring with longer hair, rumpled hat and dark almost black soulful eyes who spoke almost as if something was wrong with his vocal chords, very quietly like a shy little child, squeaking when he spoke. I'm not sure what his history was but I remember having such compassion and care for him, I would stand behind the bar at the end and just look at him as a little girl wondering what his life must have been like and where he lived. There was Dr. Bradley who would come and stand at the bar too when my grandfather owned the place years ago. His son would later become a doctor too and remained friends with my dad, the older Doctor would exchange rental for his boat slip for medical care for our family way back when. It was one of those places where you may have a person of means next to a very poor person, little children would come in too with their parents, the souvenir shop was incredible, handmade seashell jewelry made by my mother and Grandma Jeannette, period now vintage ceramics and all kinds of things from the bay abounded. It was once written in the Houston Chronicle that this place should be encased in glass and put into the Smithsonian. There was that beautiful mahogany bar there where Coca-Colas, 7Ups and all that jazz was served and beer. Do I drink alcohol? No, I don't, I've seen what it can do to people and I know what the dangerous tendencies are and the influence it has on others, I understand the warnings in the Bible, I guess you could say the warnings are there for a reason. I don't want to come across as priggish, a priggish attitude stinks but sometimes we learn from one another right? I try to use caution not to give wrong impressions and give false okays on things I feel could be dangerous.
I do truly hope to write more stories and memories in the future, I think you may enjoy them!
I remember this scene quite well, my parents owned a Gulf gas station there in front of the resort for the boats. Once again, many kind of people. Shrimpers, boat owners, many, the salt of the earth. My Italian grandpa down the street was a shrimper. He came to the water from Houston where his Italian family was because he loved the water. He had also been an opera singer as a young man, an Italian immigrant in New York. Yes, it's true. He was from the same town, Bisaquino, Sicily as Frank Capra. I can say my family on both sides are very entrepreneurial and I am so glad and thankful for that.
The reason all of this is brought to memory is because at the time I didn't realize it but I had such a fascinating world and the chance to meet and listen to all kinds of people.
My husband and I have learned to always see everyone for what is inside.
I'll have to write another time of the tragedies of young and old men
in prison that we have seen and what was on the inside, the way they
were raised and the lost gifts.
Both of us have had whammies so to speak in life and get what it's like to be snubbed. Too metropolitan, too homie, if it's not one thing it's another right?
We must be the first class versions of ourselves and don't worry about it.
I say, remain your true self, and God will send those He wants us to be friends with, we really don't want any other do we? My mother was always very much a quiet artist and I never heard her gossip on the phone just for the sake of blathering with another woman. There was no announcement from either of my parents that they heard 'scoop' and certainly no talk of what kind of cars people drove. My mother always taught me to never have a best friend, at least never let that show, in other words. Don't clique up. It amazes me that grown women clique up!
I always get tickled in our little area. You. Just. Never. ...Never, never know who you are dealing with. My son in law tells me that he and his dad stopped at a home business for some service needed and a man came out in his underwear. They were ready to leave thinking surely they were at the wrong place. The man turned out to be a nice person (who wore overalls usually!) and when the man passed away it was found out that he had been somewhat of a philanthropist and lover of the arts, and had traveled the world over. He had moved in our area to enjoy nature and simplify.
The rancher who sold us our land drove around in an old beat up jeep, wore an obviously favorite checked shirt with a slight rip at the collar bone. He was a darling, he knew my girls by name wrote down their birthdays and even knew which bedroom each girl was to have upstairs as we were building. Our family felt such love from that precious man. This man was born in the oil camps and was now worth no telling, just a huge amount. Jed Clampett, get out of the way. He played with money and land as if it was monopoly money. We called him Dan, the oil man. When he passed away we found out he had started organizations much like Boys Town and others to help troubled youth.
Us? I'm a Seabrook girl and my husband is from the city grown up in an Italian grocery store. So, we aren't going to fit in any box. I've learned now later in life how right-on my mom and dad were on much of this. ...Yeah Daddy, some can go jump in the lake, you ain't just-a-kiddin'.
Yep, lots of people living to impress people they don't even like and many gems of folks are being overlooked.
Here is the poignant video:
I have this framed and hanging in my guest bathroom, my guest bathroom is an exhibit of my thoughts and interests. I have pitbull art, old black and white retro movie ads, a genuine old black and white movie still from the files of a major studio in Hollywood.
I also have the following book on display there:
My Uncle Wesley's book from the 30s.
Uncle Wesley's dress gloves he wore in military school in Mississippi. A seashell from our old place of business where I grew up.
One of my favorite pretties. Janie, our oldest daughter bought this for me, she found the lovely piece at an antique store. It shows my love for animals perfectly. I love Grace Livingston Hill books...especially those old original copies. Wonderful, wonderful books!
A little ceramic vintage piece I found at the resale shop in smalltown...It had been neglected and I prettied it up cleaning it and now I so enjoy one of my favorite little poems. I also love birds...God's messengers.
How do you Make Friends?
I love wearing art skirts that I make. Here is just one of them that I wore many times this past summer. You would not believe the wonderful conversations that are started when I wear my art skirts! Maxi art skirts. See the art in me!
Who wouldn't want to talk and comment about these wonderful fur angels?! Precious little doggy faces on light blue cotton. Pattern is (out of print) Simplicity 4881 tweaked to a maxi and self designed tie belt.
Perhaps I can post one of my art skirts with each blog?
I sure hope that everyone is having a good week. I'll close now, just so much to say, so many thoughts and recollections in the theatre of my mind.
Here's my husband and I holding our two sweet little grandsons, Timmy and Jimmy.
Take care now, Loves, Signing off from The Forest Cathedral.... ~Amelia
A movie worth watching...A true story. Boomerang! (1947)
I recently saw this movie on regular antenna television (we cut the cable and are so happy with regular television). I can tape the movies on the Movies! channel or any regular channels with my Channel Master and it's so great to fast forward the commercials and watch an old movie at our leisure, hubs and I in the evening after a nice supper. (No, I'm not being paid to advertise!) lol But I would like to let folks know there is a way to tape programs on regular antenna television which to me is very adequate for our needs. No, there are no monthly fees, the Channel Master is just a little device. We were amazed at how many very nice stations are on free antenna television!
I really enjoy movies with Dana Andrews and Karl Malden in them, usually that's a good sign of an enjoyable, quality movie. Dana Andrews is from our neck of the woods and a son of a pastor. He is also in one of my very favorite movies, Best Years of Our Lives, considered one of the most lifelike movies of our veterans from WWII.
Here is the trailer I found on youtube of Boomerang!, I have mixed emotions on the trailer, it doesn't seem to do the movie justice. Justice. The movie, Boomerang! is about justice and a good warning to be careful and also brave, always checking the sources of what we hear and think we see. My dad always said: "Believe none of what you hear, and half of what you see." It may mean that we stand alone.
In the movie you will see the underhanded politicking that occurs in many situations from many different angles! Sadly, even in churches and homeschool groups too. I'm sure you have seen the same as well, let it be a lesson for usto be that one to question and stand for what is right for the Audience of One. There are far too many people who will stand back quietly as someone is picked apart and their reputation is ruined to say the least or I've also seen many being left out because of sectarian spirits operating. This ought not be in Christian circles, we should be the friendliest, wisest and sweetest people around!
An important fact from the movie above: Cummings (named "Henry Harvey" in the film) later became Attorney General of the United States.
Here is a photo of a Little Dress for Africa I have started, I have four all-cotton tshirts are ladies tshirts that our daughter, Michelle picked up from Dollar Tree!. I took a seam down the middle of both the front and back to make it a youth size. This dress will be for an older youth. I will also be making some little shorts for little boys as I am able. For me? I'm making some wonderful autumn print skirts and checking my cotton long sleeve shirts to make sure I am set for fall....Oh yes, Fall how I love thee...
My grocery store in smalltown, just love this store...I try to spy out older folks, especially those older war vets. I just love giving them some attention and thanks...They are adorable and wonderful treasures. We can be an angel to them and others... I enjoy wearing whimsical novelty cotton skirts, they are a great conversation starter. Some people drive art cars? I wear art skirts! (Another blog!)
I'll close with s photo of one of our precious pets we have lost in the past two years, she was such a sweet, loyal little doggy...She was just precious....
...Esther, our little sweetheart. We miss you Esther.
I hope everyone is having a nice week, a thankful week, even though we may go through ups and downs, our Father, God will carry us. May we feel His gentle hands, may we be those gentle hands to others, in word and deed. Give people a loving smile that they can't resist! Let's be a friend to people.
People may not remember what we said, but they will remember how they were made to feel.
I came across this precious video today on the youtube channel as it played on my Channel Master. Some days I put a vintage video on and my Channel master plays a string of wonderful vintage films. When I heard this one, my ears perked up, I heard the beautiful singing and the sweet little southern accents in the children. The little voices reminded me of some of the sweeter little friends I had when I was a little girl in early elementary school.
The spirit of the little video brought tears to my eyes, after all the talk of Thanksgiving food, it moves into Thanksgiving in life.
If you are anything like me, wired in any of the same way I am, I do think you will love this. Enjoy.
One of the most peaceful places in the world is outside in the country where we live. I feel so close to God when I'm outside in His creation.
I hope you enjoy the little glimpse of my morning walk:
Just some sweetness for your evening.
Closing with one of my all time favorites, Stardust Serenade by Nat King Cole. Our daughters and I used to listen to the cd, Love is the Thing and More by Nat King Cole all the way to our piano lessons in smalltown all the way from the suburbs where we had moved. I loved our piano teacher, Mrs. B. She's with God now, so many of the oldtime friends I had are gone now.
They still live in my heart, the wisdom they shared and the memories I hold. Yesterday was my Italian grandma's birthday, I miss my sweet Italian grandparents...Oh what we had when we would visit their sweet home...I pray the same spirit will be in our home now, nothing fancy, just sweet family, good eats and laughter.
Nothing like a sweet little baby, a little angel to hold...
Our newest little angel grand-baby, our second grand-baby...Introducing baby! He is a darling little baby and has many different expressions that never cease to amaze! We are thanking God for little baby. Many of you may remember when Joycie and Pete were married a couple of years ago and my how time flies!
What a sweetheart!
It's been so very busy here, we went out of town for our 39th wedding anniversary, so I should have some neat shots of that soon. If you've read here long, you know I love the Mississippi river and the river boats. My Italian grandma's family had an ice cream shop across from the river, across from Jax Brewery, yes, New Orleans is in my blood. We visited the National WWII Museum in New Orleans and that was a treat, I've always wanted to go to that museum. The Pacific War Museum in Fredericksbur is wonderful as well, and I want to go back to that one to revisit too, it is also excellent. Very much so.
My latest sewing project:
You have to love those 97 cent patterns at Walmart! Simplicity A8682. This was a winner. I added around an inch and a quarter to the hem and I made it fit into just three yards. Mine hits right above my ankle bone and that is just perfect for me. I think this is a real cutie-pie wrap skirt, a very cheerful skirt, feminine and fun to wear! ...And it has two pockets! I've had this cotton fabric in my stash and didn't know what to do with it, it was a bit on the stiff side so it makes a great skirt. I can see black, bright yellow etc. with this skirt. Sometimes when I see this type of print and think of black and that bright yellow, I think of Mary Tyler Moore, those years.
I'm telling ya, when I go to the sewing department at Walmart, I feel just like a little girl again in the toy department! Haha!
I love what Tasha Tudor said on skirts and dresses:
From page 63 from the book, The Private World of Tasha Tudor by Tasha Tudor and Richard Brown. This book is great fun to read and look at! Lot's of eye candy and just neat to read...A nice get-away book. It goes through the four seasons. Just great stuff. Her gardens, her corgis...The way she brought her children up with a trunk of clothes to perform in. (I had that trunk of clothes too and I fully intend on having one here at Mi-Mi's house for our grandsons and future granddaughters as well! So. Fun. Yep, I'm going to be making nature scrap books and all kinds of stuff with those kids. Fun times!
Excerpt:"Why do women want to dress like men when they're fortunate enough to be women? Why lose our femininity, which is one of our greatest charms? We get much more accomplished by being charming than we would by flaunting around in pants and smoking. I'm very fond of men. I think they're wonderful creatures. I love them dearly. But I don't want to look like one. When women gave up their long skirts, they made a grave error. Things half seen are so much more mysterious and delightful. Remember the term 'a neatly turned ankle'? Think of the thrill that gentlemen used to get if they caught even a glimpse of one. Now women go around in their union suits. And what a multitude of sins you could cover up with a long skirt if you had piano legs."
That just tickled me to no end and I tend to agree with Ms. Tudor. I enjoy my capris and even loose fitting yoga pants and a Mary Tyler Moore-style corduroy pantsuit at times in the winter, but nothing like a feminine full skirt, one that doesn't have to be yanked on, that glides over the body beautifully. When we wear those skirts we feel special too. I usually wear one when going to the grocery or out to eat, or at home even, it just speaks something good I think. I love cotton skirts and dresses!
Well, I'll be seein' ya!
Signing off from the Forest Cathedral...We'll catch up soon.
I'll be seeing you...
Just wanted to touch bases...Oh so much going on...
They had an example of sheet music of this song at The National WWII Museum, many of these songs were written for men and women as the men went off to war.
Blessings to All, ~Amelia
Angel Baby, our first grandbaby with me holding him in my element, the screen porch here in the Forest. Ponytail MiMi having fun, enjoying the blessing of being a MiMi!
I think babies will have a grand time playing together soon! Love comes while we rest against our Father's chest. Joy comes when we catch the rhythms of His heart. Peace comes when we live in harmony with those rhythms. ~Ken Gire
This time of year is a busy one and has become one of remembrance, so I thought I would prayerfully put a re-post up of last year, for I'm feeling a little bit of the same way this year. Life can be much like post war times after WWII, the people then would always remember the sentimental later on down the line and thus those old movie greats in the 40s. It's been two years since my dad left this green earth and it was not in any way I would have dreamed of, to say it was a time of uncertainty, distress and gross injustice is an understatement. One of these days I will write the specifics. One of these days...The story is an almost unbelievable one, a tragic one, a story of a failed system and corruption, a story of a divided heart and one that I would have never dreamed possible. The following re-post will hopefully be an encouragement to those who have gone through troubles of this magnitude. There is hope, God will help you cope.
A book I highly recommend is: To Live Again by Catherine Marshall wife of the late great Chaplain of the United States Senate, Peter Marshall. Many of you know that Peter Marshall passed away in his younger years at the age of 47 back in 1949 leaving Catherine with a young son.
The best reason to pray is that God is really there.
In praying, our unbelief gradually starts to melt. God moves smack
into the middle of even an ordinary day...Prayer is a matter of keeping
at it...Thunderclaps and lightning flashes are very unlikely. It is
well to start small and quietly. ~Emilie Griffin
Take care now and have a sweet week, Loves, ~Amelia
Hello, Thank you for stopping by. I'm a middle-aged veteran home educator, happily married over 45 years, mother of four sweet adult daughters, grandmother of 5 precious little children, three boys and two girls. We live in the forest. I design, sew, write, enjoy art, cook, and take care of our many fur angels. ...I'm also a hopeless romantic who wishes it were the 40s again. Follower of Christ, I cherish my personal relationship with the Lord. A pro-life advocate and ethical vegetarian; think: John Wesley, William Booth, Fred Rogers and Frances of Assisi. I laugh hard and pray hard too! Live, Laugh, Love...And pray hard...That's me.
The sequel, Christmas of Many Colors, Circle of Love. Can't wait for another night to watch this one too!
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